Slayer Guitarist Dies: Jeff Hanneman Dead At 49

Jeff Hanneman, Slayer guitarist, dies at 49. Metal guitarist Jeff Hanneman, founding member of rock band Slayer, has died at the age of 49.

A statement on the band’s Facebook page said Hanneman died of liver failure in California on Thursday.

Since 2011, Hanneman had been suffering from necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that he is believed to have contracted from a spider bite.