Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman dead at 49

[opiate69]

Source: Billboard

Slayer guitarist and founding member Jeff Hanneman died earlier today of liver failure. He was 49.

The band's longtime publicist issued the following statement today:

"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. He was 49. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed."

Hanneman co-founded the thrash metal greats with Kerry King in 1981; their breakthrough came in 1986 with the landmark album "Reign in Blood." Hanneman wrote or co-wrote the set's standout tracks, "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood."


Read more: http://m.billboard.com/articles/news/1560534/slayer-guitarist-jeff-hanneman-dead-at-49

---

RIP, Jeff.

[Release The Hounds]

1. \m/

[CarrieLynne]

2. oh damn...RIP Jeff...say hi to Dime when you get there....

[Mojo Electro]

3. It's a sad day for metal fans...

He's one of the people who inspired me to learn to play guitar. Rock on, man, thanks for all the shredding.

[MrSlayer]

4. I am beside myself.

Hanneman has been a god to me for thirty years, since I was 13 and first heard the opening of Aggressive Perfector. Slayer's music has been the soundtrack of my life through good times and bad and is a primary reason that I've not been a violent psychopath. I'm devastated, totally wrecked.

R.I.P. my brother.

[opiate69]

7. i hear you.. it's an absolute shock...

Have to imagine it's traceable back to that spider bite.... great dude too from everything I've heard..

[MrSlayer]

11. Thanks.

It might be awhile before I'm ok.

[Arctic Dave]

19. Put on South of Heaven,

turn dial to 10 and mourn.

[toddaa]

35. I still remember when Chuck died

Didn't sleep for a week. Listened to Human and Individual Thought Patterns on repeat through the night. Probably going to do that with Hell Awaits and RiB tonight.

Fellow metalhead knows what you are going through, bro. Hang in there.

[Ter]

56. That's almost how I felt when I read that Dimebag Darrel was shot and killed

I loved Pantera, and always will.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. He was one of my son's favorites.

Son Travis used to make the devil's horns sign with his fingers while saying, "Slaytanic, dude!"

[SleeplessinSoCal]

6. "Angel of Death" and "Reign in Blood". Sounds like a lifestyle choice.

[longship]

9. Um! The band's name is "Slayer".

Kind of gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it?

I post this in honor of a passing musician:

Sorry. It's not Slayer. But I despise heavy metal. You'll have to settle for Mile Davis from the greatest jazz album ever recorded (and recorded all in one take). Still one hates to see a music lover pass without a musical tribute, even if it isn't in the same form.

[johnp3907]

22. I despise wife beaters.

[cyberswede]

13. Um...

Not funny, if that was your aim.

[frylock]

17. being a complete asshole is most definitely a lifestyle choice

[opiate69]

18. Yeah.. he chose to get necrotizing fasciitis from a spider because he was a metal musician..

[harmonicon]

24. Busting your ass to make musical history is definitely a lifestyle choice.

I'm not s Slayer fan, but I can recognize that they were a BIG part of setting a standard for genres of music that didn't even quite exist until they and few contemporaries came along to show others what was possible.

[Codeine]

25. Loudly flaunting one's ignorance impresses few. nt

[ForgoTheConsequence]

33. Do you get off on being a prick?

You have no idea what you're talking about but you still choose to flap your know nothing gums. Sometimes its best to just shut up, your parents should have taught you that.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

42. You talking to me? I read. I comment. I'm also a classical musician.

I've never understood the lifestyle of these kinds of bands. I gather they have no sense of irony.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

43. Ridiculous.

And if you're truly a "classical musician" (like a thousand other music majors) you should know that this behavior isn't limited to this style of music but artists spanning genres and mediums.

Remember how Beethoven died? LIVER DAMAGE.

Now run along and seek attention elsewhere.

[johnp3907]

45. Some people have no sense of decency.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

48. Questioning the darkness and the tribute to blood and death is indecent?

This music must do a real number on the mind.

[johnp3907]

49. "This music?"

You mean classical? Yep, seems to make people into heartless pricks who like harass people who are upset when someone they care about dies. Kinda Westboro Baptist Church behavior. So classy.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

58. Excuse me? This is extremely harsh for a comment, which if you look at it was benign.

Such hate. Such anger. Possibly your response is why I don't relate to Thrash Metal music and its fans.

[johnp3907]

59. Hate? Anger?

That's exactly what I thought when you chimed in here. Can't you have the decency to let us grieve in piece?

[Quantess]

65. Hypocrite. Try looking in a miror.

Besides, the man died of complications of a spider bite. Your comments are seriously lacking in class.

[Ter]

54. You must either be old or really young

In the 80's, it was damn cool to name rock and metal bands after destruction. Slayer, Poison, Warrant, Slaughter, LA Guns, Guns and Roses, and a plethora of others.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

57. I'm old. Saw The Beatles live at the Hollywood Bowl

Lived in England for three years and was a big fan of Bowie, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Queen. John Lennon was my neighbor his last 4 years and I opt for "Imagine". Been to three Springsteen concerts too.

Now I teach young singers to sing pop music because classical music is dying. Or because it is so popular on TV. I'd never want them to sing this music or think about the messages in them. So I definitely have concerns for the young and the old. I gather it's those in between who I'm out of tune with.

Btw, I wonder what sort of male audience Joe Jackson had in the 80s. He's still around. He's a lifelong favorite of mine because he ventures into all musical genres. Saw him in 1982. So much fun.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

47. "Angel of Death" isn't in the classical rep that I know of.

My point is that I observe most pop music from a certain perspective. Classical musicians can die like this man did, or tragically and needlessly. But the hallmark of the trade isn't "Reign of Blood". I merely pointed out a lifestyle anomaly from mainstream pop music.

Tell me, what is the attraction to such bleakness?

[opiate69]

53. I must have imagined "March of the Valyries" then..

Valkyries essentially being angels of death...

[SleeplessinSoCal]

55. Sorry. No "thrash" in classical music.

It's the choice of every musician to reflect what they want and how they want. I don't begrudge these bands a living. I do however wonder what sort of message it sends to young men of an impressionable age. Wish I'd never read about this band.

"I stab you right between the eyes
you awaken from the lies
I said it ever since the inception
Where the masters of deception
I'm a godless heretic
Not a god-fearing lunatic
that's why it's become my obsession
To treat God like an infection

My scars insane, my life profane
I deny, defy, and spread a little hate, worldwide!

Like a storm that devastates
Religious power instigate
Take a listen to my confession
There is no filter on my aggression
With a blister open wide
To keep the massacre alive
I got cold devastation
With my moral imperfection

My scars insane, my life profane
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net -]
I deny, defy, and spread a little hate, worldwide!

Religious death, I instigate
From what the bible demonstrates
Does it document creation
Of this hopeless infliction
Of a godless heretic
Not a god-fearing lunatic
that's why it's become my obsession
To treat God like an infection

My scars insane, my life profane
I deny, defy, and spread a little hate, worldwide!

Open life scars, crushing open wounds
The walls of this scene will be crashing at you
you left senseless mentally unfit
Never fucking heard from you again
Never fucking heard from again

[ForgoTheConsequence]

67. Get over yourself.

You're not impressing anyone. Stop fishing for attention and move along.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

70. I'm trying to explain that the music spectrum is vast and some people

are unaware of classical music. I'm not trying to impress, I'm trying to explain. Interesting that this is the first time I've had multiple exchanges at DU. And that I wind up being attacked for an opinion. I thought this was a discussion board.

[Warren DeMontague]

71. You decided to play music snob in a thread full of people mourning someone's death.

and you're aghast that anyone might find that a bit, er... tacky.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

75. You guys are the snobs! I'v never seen such intolerance on the topic of music

[Warren DeMontague]

76. Oh FFS.

I'm not a Slayer fan, but it's not like death is not a common subject of art.

I mean, what is Mozart's requiem about? Kittens?

And anyway, it's not about the content of the music, it's about the fact that someone just died. The classy move is to not say anything if you can't say something nice.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

77. Yes. That would have been the wise move.

[Quantess]

86. Yes, it is a discussion board, which means that

you will encounter people who have different opinions, experiences, and insights than you do. Begin from there.

Classical music and some heavy metal music (such as Slayer) are two sides of the same coin. You are apparently not musically inclined if you cannot sense that. That, or you are too heavily prejudiced. You claim to be a big fan of classical music, well then, there is some bias of yours to not see that these genres are similar in many ways.

To my ears, listening to classical music is about as challenging to my brain as listening to this Slayer album. Same thing with vintage Metallica. You cannot relax to classical music (most of it, anyway), the same way you cannot relax to good metal.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

89. Ugh!

Way too ugly in here.

[Quantess]

94. You secretly love Slayer, don't you?

That would explain why you have been all over this thread from the start. You have some sort of issue, but I'll leave you alone and let you ponder it.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

95. Just like a debate is all. But when this sort of ugliness comes at me,

I'd be wise to walk away. I now know, without a doubt, that the music of these guys has spawned an ugliness I'd only imagined before this person's demise.

Congrats! You got me to finally dump this trash/thread/thrash.

[Quantess]

87. I am considering the sheer ignorance of your statement.

As if, someone who appreciates Slayer has no idea of classical music?
Or an even dumber claim to suggest that Slayer musicians have no idea of classical music?

Do you have ears? Do you hear that these musicians in Slayer are working hard, and that they have worked on their talent from early teenage years, or maybe younger?

It is YOU who have a prejudice. It is YOU who are an elitist. No, you are failing at being an elitist because really, you are just run-of-the-mill, judgmental, and ignorant.

2nd edit: No wonder you have so many responses to your ignorant, judgmental comments! This is not a matter of musical taste, since Slayer is not something I seek out, and nor is Mozart or other classical composers. In my opinion, both classical and metal genres are usually too stressful for me to listen to, but I can appreciate the work that went into it!

Your comments basically have the effect of taking a heaping, steaming pile of shit on a hard working musician, just because you disapprove of their musical style.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

88. Ain't so much the "thrashy" music but the tasteless lyrics.

I assume your grieving period is over since you have so much time to spew bile. Then again, I consider your taste and the message is received loud and ugly.

[Quantess]

93. Hypocrite!

What is in it for you, you might ask yourself, that you can devote so much time and effort to being a keyboard warrior about this topic?

The last little dig about my taste---Slayer isn't even on my playlist, so you don't know what my taste is. However, I am insulted on Slayer fans' behalf at your complete lack of class, and your ignorance and prejudice.

Anyway, getting back to your issue: What makes Slayer so important to you, that you feel compelled to post nearly 20% of all the comments in this thread? (Something you might want to ask yourself)

[EvilAL]

96. Funny, because Slayer likes Classical music

and have since they were a very young band.

[XVI_Eyes]

69. I play in a metal band.

I don't drink. I don't do bad things. I've got a university education, a wife, and a two year old.

ART is about the conveyance of emotion through a given form. Not all emotions are good ones. Good art is effective at conveying whatever it is you wish to evoke. Some people don't like aggression, fear or sadness, but these are valid emotion people try to communicate. Don't like? Don't listen. But don't judge either, because you don't know what the fuck you are talking about.

SLAYER was writing about a specific person in angel of death (joseph mengele). Tell me, if someone were do make a movie about him, would that make the writer/directer/actors bad people with lifestyle problems? Or is it only ok to broach these topics in some art forms and not others?

Most of my friends who play metal are great people, most don't have "lifestyle" problems either. Hell, most of them are basically nerds.

Go buy an Opeth record and educate yourself.

[opiate69]

73. This! ^^^

[neverforget]

78. Opeth is my favorite band.

Absolutely love their music!

[XVI_Eyes]

82. Opeth is everyone's favorite band.

Some people just don't know yet.

[neverforget]

83. LOL, everyone should needs to hear the greatness that is

Opeth.

[toddaa]

39. Metal has no use for you, either

Or as Lemmy would say, no class.

[flvegan]

63. Since you've already been told, I won't bother. n/t

[neverforget]

68. Stay classy.

[nomorenomore08]

92. Can't have the light without the dark. Can't have happiness without suffering.

To me, the dark, morbid themes of metal are simply part of the yin/yang of human existence.

[Jennicut]

8. He was bitten by spider in 2011 and was in a medically

induced coma. He did seem to get better. But maybe it damaged his liver. I grew up listening to Slayer, I had an older brother that loved metal and he got me listening to them as a 12 year old. This is really sad news. I need to go listen to some Raining Blood now.

[opiate69]

12. My old band used to play this song.. good stuff...

http://m.

[CarrieLynne]

31. damn that hit the spot, thanks :)

[opiate69]

32. Well...I am all about hitting the spots! ;)

In all seriousness though, glad it did the trick. I know many Slayer fans, and one thing about that band is, they engender a fierce loyalty from their fans. Lots of good people are hurting tonight behind this news.

[CarrieLynne]

41. they are legendary..

I've seen them...i dunno 4-5 times here in seattle....couple times I even ventured into the pit! they have the most brutal pits ever lol but one thing is...one time I fell while in there and, that can be a dangerous place to be....but as fast as I realized I fell, a buncha people stopped and picked me up People take care of each other in there

[jayfish]

36. We USed To Play It As Well

Great song, great video and great band. Jeff will be missed.

[opiate69]

52. Fun riffage for a guitarist.. of course, I`ve always been a fan if the tri-tone too...

Which surprise surprise has a storied history in Classical music as well! (for the benefit of the classless tool upthread)

[johnp3907]

60. Diabolus in musica!

The classless tool is really picking my scabs.

[opiate69]

74. and there's another one downthread now...

[d_b]

14. damn. RIP

[nomorenomore08]

90. Oh shit! That was one of my favorites back in the day.

Definitely an underrated tune, among their catalog.

[frylock]

15. dang

[EvolveOrConvolve]

16. Oh shit!

I know that some people don't like the music, but there are others who enjoy the heavy thrash and death metal. RIP, Jeff.

[Throd]

20. RIP. Slayer has always been a major influence on my music.

[OnyxCollie]

21. RIP, Jeff.

I was listening to "Hell Awaits" on the way to the store today...

(Sigh.)

[PD Turk]

23. Oh no :(

Rip Jeff

[Bjorn Against]

26. Not a big fan of Slayer, but I acknowledge they were a extremely talented band

Like their style or not, they played some very difficult material that very musicians would be able to play. I didn't care for their style, but they were one of the most talented bands on the metal scene.

[mikeysnot]

27. RIP dude it was fun hanging out

Listening to you jam right now.

[mikeysnot]

28. If life couldn't suck anymore.

And yet Strom Thurmond lived to 1000 and Prick Cheney is still alive..

And you die so young.

[HughBeaumont]

29. R.I.P. Thank you for the last 27 years of great music in my life.

I wore out two copies of Reign in Blood on cassette.

[southmost]

30. well that sucks

/w\ metal horns down /w\

[toddaa]

34. \m/ at half mast

Wow. Considering how young he was, this is horrible.

Hanneman was a thrash riff monster. Kerry may have played all the over the top (and overrated) solos, but Hanneman was workman like in cranking out one killer riff after another.

Feel like crap now. Hell Awaits.

[toddaa]

37. Hell Awaits

RIP Jeff

[johnp3907]

44. Cool to see him on the Les Paul.

[jayfish]

38. The Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show Is Streaming...

live right now. Promises to be a real tribute. Anthrax opened up the show and finished their set with a cover of Raining Blood. Scott Ian is no JH or KK but it was quite good.

http://www.revolvermag.com/goldengods2013/?page_id=8

[neverforget]

40. That sucks! RIP Hanneman. Slayer rules!

[johnp3907]

51. Crazy!

I can't believe people hop onto this thread just put down Heavy Metal. What's wrong with these scumbags??? And then these idiots wonder why we like songs like this:

[Blandocyte]

64. RIP The world will never be the same

Now all I'll have for inspiration are classics of literature.

[Warren DeMontague]

72. Condolences to all the fans and family.

[Tx4obama]

79. Speculation about rocker Hanneman's death spotlights spider-bite effects

Speculation about rocker Hanneman's death spotlights spider-bite effects
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/03/showbiz/california-hanneman-spider-bite/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

[opiate69]

80. For our resident snobs... Slayer "Raining Blood" orchestral arrangement

http://m.

[EvilAL]

81. Totally devastated

I have been a fan of Slayer and Jeff for 25 years. Jeff's riffs and solos are the reason I play guitar. Slayer's music got me through some tough shit and even when things were good, it made them better. RIP Jeff.

[brett_jv]

84. RIP Jeff

You are a true metal legend, and you will be missed.

[Quantess]

85. These memories lay dormant until now: This album brings me back.

[nomorenomore08]

91. "Chemical Warfare" ('Decade of Aggression' version):

THRASH TILL DEATH!!!