Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died.

Hanneman passed away this morning from liver failure at a hospital near his home in Southern California.

"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away..." the band said in a statement.

Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare skin infection also known as flesh-eating disease, in 2011, and hadn't been touring since.

It's not know if the disease played part in his liver failure.

Hanneman was 49.