Jeff Hanneman of Slayer has died at the age of 49.

The band just posted the following to their Facebook page.

Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. 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.

Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)

In early 2011, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis. It is assumed he contacted the disease from a spider bite. Exodus guitarist Gary Holt had been filling in for Hanneman since. There is no word if the liver failure was a complication from necrotizing fasciitis or not.

Photo by Timothy Westmorland.