R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman
I’ve been taking my time to put this up. The news about Jeff Hanneman has devastated the metal community and I’m still in shock that it’s actually true. For many of us, Slayer are the ultimate metal band. Fans from all genres of the music could relate to Slayer and Jeff’s music. He was the driving backbone behind their best known songs and a formidable presence on stage when they played live.
I was lucky enough to have seen Jeff play with Slayer twice, the last time being the Big4 show in Warsaw just months before he contracted necrotizing fasciitis from a spider bite. Ever since he withdrew from touring I’ve, like all fans, followed his progress and hoped to hear news of his return to the line-up. Just a month ago things seemed to be looking up with reports that, although he wasn’t taking his physical therapy too seriously, he was well on the mend and just taking some time for himself. That has made the news of his passing much more difficult to swallow.
Jeff, thank you so much for the dozens of songs you gave me, Slayer and your fans. You will live on through them forever. My deepest condolences to the Hanneman family, Dave, Tom, Kerry and the extended Slayer crew and fans.
There is no word yet about their summer plans for those of you googling for information. Most likely the shows in Dublin and Belfast will go ahead as Jeff has been absent for quite some time and Gary Holt has been filling in. If they do go ahead, it will be a fitting way of celebrating Jeff’s music with the people that brought out his best.
R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman (1964 – 2013)
'Ticket's There' - Irish and International Music Blog 
June 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm
[…] we had the news that Jeff Hanneman, the legend behind some of Slayer’s best known and beloved songs, had passed away unexpectedly. […]
April 24, 2014 at 1:41 pm
[…] the world was just days away from hearing the news that founding guitarist and chief songwriter, Jeff Hanneman had passed. After years battling a flesh eating virus, Jeff finally succumbed to his hidden battle with […]
July 2, 2014 at 2:48 pm
[…] the night with ‘South of Heaven’ and ‘Angel of Death’. Slayer may have lost Jeff, the legend behind many of their most loved songs. They may also have fallen out with Dave – their […]