Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of the Metal band Slayer, died on Thursday from liver failure at age 49. While liver failure was the immediate cause of death, some have speculated that a devastating spider bite in 2011 played a role. However, experts say that it could not have played a role.
ABC News reports that Hanneman was bit in 2011 and later contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria. The infection made it impossible for him to perform and he only had a chance to play guitar with Slayer once before he died.
A rep for the group didn’t mention the spider bite in a statement, only saying that “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 a.m.”
Doctors told ABC News that it is not possible that the bite from two years ago could have lead to liver failure since the infection could not have lasted this long. Some insect experts said that the infection might not even have been a result of a brown recluse spider bite and Hanneman just assumed that there was a connection between a bite he received and the infection.
“They're named recluses for a reason, they don't come out,” Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California-Riverside told ABC. “If he was up and about and walking around, it was unlikely to be a spider bite.”
While some have linked the spider bite to his death, the metal community continues to mourn the loss of Hanneman. According to The New York Daily News, Metallica released a statement that simply read, “R.I.P Jeff Hanneman.”
“We're saddened by the death of @Slayer guitarist, Jeff Hanneman,” Papa Roach added. “Our prayers and best wishes to Slayer and Jeff's family.”
Hanneman is survived by his wife Kathy, who was by his side when he died Thursday at an LA hospital.