Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman dies after suffering liver failure at a hospital in Southern Calif. On May 2, Billboard reported that Hanneman passed away two years after being diagnosed with a rare skin tissue disease. It is unclear if his death and the disease were related. Slayer announced the sad news on Thursday after learning that their “bandmate and brother” had died.
“Hanneman has been off the road since early 2011, when he contracted necrotizing fasciitis — most likely from a spider bite — a quick-progressing disease that literally eats away at the flesh from deep layers of skin and tissue (sic),” reports Billboard.
After the Slayer guitarist died, several fans sent out tweets and messages of condolences to those who knew him best. Several fans are simply devastated to hear that this incredible musician died so young. It sounds as though he had quite the struggle with the skin disease and that he was battling it for the past couple of years. It is presumed that his liver failure was somehow related to the disease which is described as:
“An infection caused by bacteria. It can destroy skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles within a very short time. The infection may spread rapidly. It quickly can become life-threatening. You may go into shock and have damage to skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles. (This damage is called gangrene.) Necrotizing fasciitis can lead to organ failure and death” (via WebMD).
Slayer guitarist died less than four months after his 49th birthday.
© Effie Orfanides 2013
