Suspected spider bite led to illness of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, dead at 49

LOS ANGELES — Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of Slayer whose career was irrevocably changed after a spider bite, has died. He was 49.
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The guitarist had recently begun writing songs with the band in anticipation of recording a new album later this year. He had been slowly recovering from what was believed to be a spider bite that nearly cost him his arm after he failed to seek immediate treatment.
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Slayer spokeswoman Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald said it's believed the spider bite contributed to the failure of Hanneman's liver, but it is unclear whether an autopsy will be scheduled.
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The statement reads, “We’ve just learned that the official cause of Jeff’s death was alcohol related cirrhosis. While he had his health struggles over the years, including the recent Necrotizing fasciitis infection that devastated his well-being (after a spider bite in 2011), Jeff and those close to him were not aware of the true extent of his liver condition until the last days of his life.”

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