Community Corner
Slayer Guitarist and Hemet Resident Mourned
The band Slayer has announced that guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died today near his home in the Inland Empire.
Jeff Hanneman, guitarist for the popular thrash metal rock band Slayer, died today near his home in the Inland Empire, according to the band's website.
Hanneman, 49, was at a local hospital when he died of liver failure about 11 a.m, Slayer's official website stated. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported that Hanneman was a Hemet resident.
Hanneman and band member Kerry King co-founded Slayer in 1981 in Huntington Beach, motivated by a desire to meld heavy metal and punk.
The resulting mix drew a wide and devoted fan following that spawned recording and concert success.
The popularity of Slayer's first two albums, "Show No Mercy" in 1983 and 1985's "Hell Awaits" led to seven more studio albums and two live albums, along with a pair of EPs, according to Billboard magazine.
Hanneman remained with the band until 2011 when a debilitating disease known as necrotizing fasciitis forced him to quit. It was believed he contracted the disease from a spider bite.
It was not clear what role the disease played with Hanneman's liver failure.
Born in Oakland, Hanneman was a devoted Oakland Raiders football fan who grew up in Long Beach.
He also was a military history buff due largely to his father's service in World War II and his brothers' active duty in Vietnam, Billboard reported.
Response to Hanneman's passing was swift.
An unidentified fan posted in Facebook that "Slayer has meant everything to me since about 1986. I'm now in my 40s and still rock to 'Reign in Blood' and it continues to take me back to high school!"
Fan Troy Adamson posted, "Man, what a downer. I'm going to listen to nothing but classic Slayer for the next three days ... keep rocking, Jeff!"
Born in Oakland, Hanneman was a devoted Raiders fan and grew up in Long Beach. He became interested in military history thanks in part to his father, a World War II veteran, and brothers who served in Vietnam, Billboard reported.
Hanneman was survived by his wife Kathy, his sister, Kathy, and brothers Michael and Larry.
