Heavy metal great dead at 49

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died of liver failure just two years after being forced off the road because of a rare skin tissue disease.

While his bandmates had long harboured the hope he would return to their ranks, the 49-year old founding member of the thrash metal legends died today at a Californian hospital.

When Slayer toured Australia with the Soundwave Festival in February, they said his return to the band was a "wait and see'' proposition.

"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 this morning near his Southern California home,'' the band's longtime publicist said in a statement.

"Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure.''

The musician and songwriter had to quit touring in 2011 after being diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, reportedly from a spider bite, which eats skin tissue.

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

It is not known if the disease played a role in his death.

Hanneman was credited for revolutionising heavy metal guitar playing with his power chord blasts and fierce riffing.

His peers paid tribute to the musician on social media.

"Tonight one less star will be shining and sadly, the stage got just a little bit darker. Jeff Hanneman 1964-2013,'' posted Megadeth's Dave Mustaine.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn, whom he married in 1997, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.
 

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Heavy metal great dead at 49

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died of liver failure just two years after being forced off the road because of a rare skin tissue disease.

While his bandmates had long harboured the hope he would return to their ranks, the 49-year old founding member of the thrash metal legends died today at a Californian hospital.

When Slayer toured Australia with the Soundwave Festival in February, they said his return to the band was a "wait and see'' proposition.

"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 this morning near his Southern California home,'' the band's longtime publicist said in a statement.

"Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure.''

The musician and songwriter had to quit touring in 2011 after being diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, reportedly from a spider bite, which eats skin tissue.

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

It is not known if the disease played a role in his death.

Hanneman was credited for revolutionising heavy metal guitar playing with his power chord blasts and fierce riffing.

His peers paid tribute to the musician on social media.

"Tonight one less star will be shining and sadly, the stage got just a little bit darker. Jeff Hanneman 1964-2013,'' posted Megadeth's Dave Mustaine.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn, whom he married in 1997, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.
 

View the original article here

Old guys of heavy metal still have it

OZZY OZBORNE fronts Black Sabbath at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the first of their Australian shows. Pic: Marc Robertson Source: The Courier-Mail

HEAVY metal originals Black Sabbath opened their Australian tour at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre tonight amid a sea of black T-shirts and a heightened sense of expectation.

Not only have some of their fans been waiting for close to 40 years to see another Black Sabbath tour in Australia featuring founder members Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, there is a new Rick Rubin-produced album ready for release in June.

On top of that, there is speculation about how Osbourne will cope with a return to the stage after his well-publicised falling off the wagon and climbing back on again.

Guitarist Iommi, whose trademark riffs are one of the founding pillars of heavy metal, is still recovering from lymphoma cancer.

Osbourne's life might have become the stuff of soap opera thanks to his dalliance with reality television, but this return to the fray was a forceful reminder that he and his old chums can still take on all comers in the metal department.

Those classic early albums make up the bulk of the set, which kicked off with War Pigs, worked through Snowblind and all the way to Paranoid, all doomy guitar riffs and Osbourne's even doomier lyrics.

OZZY OZBORNE fronts Black Sabbath at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the first of their Australian shows. Pic: Marc Robertson

But this is no take the money and run tour - everyone looks healthy and well preserved, Osbourne's voice is strong, the sound from the stage is loud and clear, and the stage design and lighting well done.

I'm not a Sabbath fan but I enjoyed myself, and part of that is seeing these veterans reunited and triumphing against all the odds.

They left many of the bands who have taken inspiration from them sounding pale in comparison.

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