Just over two years after contracting a rare skin tissue disease, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman died on Thursday from liver failure at a hospital near his home in Southern California's Inland Empire area.
Slayer made the news public on Thursday afternoon, announcing that the band "is devastated" and calling Hanneman, who was 49, their bandmate and brother. Twitter quickly filled with messages from fans and fellow musicians, many of whom were in Los Angeles for the 5th Annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards show at Club Nokia.
Disturbed/Device frontman David Draiman was among the very first, posting "RIP TO A TITAN OF METAL," while drummer Mike Portnoy wrote, "WOW...I'm in shock...RIP Jeff Hanneman."
It's not known what role the disease played in Hanneman's liver failure.
Slayer are scheduled to play The Academy next month.
