Slayer / “Reign in Blood”
25Jeffrey John Hanneman (January 31, 1964 – May 2, 2013) was an American musician, best known as a founding member and guitarist of the thrash metal band Slayer. Hanneman composed both music and lyrics for every Slayer album until his death in 2013.
Born in 1964 in Long Beach, California, Hanneman listened to heavy metal and hardcore punk in his childhood and adolescence. He was working as a telemarketer in 1981 when he met Kerry King, with whom he founded Slayer. He wrote the music for many of the band's most famous songs, such as "Angel of Death", "Raining Blood", and "Die by the Sword"; his own favorite album was Reign in Blood. His guitar riffs, inspired by metal and punk bands such as Led Zeppelin, Wasted Youth, and Iron Maiden, have been called some of the most famous in metal, while his dual guitar solos with King have attracted high praise.
A reserved character, Hanneman rarely gave interviews, and preferred to indulge his interest in German war medals and history. A bout of necrotizing fasciitis in early 2011 left him battling serious health issues; he was replaced on Slayer's tours by guitarists including Gary Holt. Hanneman died of liver failure on May 2, 2013.