Jeff Hanneman Dead, Slayer Guitarist Death UPDATE: Alcohol Abuse, Liver Disease Cirrhosis Killed Rocker, Not Infection from Spider Bite: Metal Bandmates Release Statement

Jeff Hanneman, founder and guitarist of the thrash metal band Slayer, died earlier ths month at the age of 49. Initial reports claimed that the rocker's death was a result of complications arising from an infectious spider bite Hanneman received years ago. But according to disease specialist Kent Sepkowitz, that's unlikely the case. Hanneman's fellow bandmates recently released a statement on Slayer's website, explaining that Hanneman actually passed away from the alcohol-related liver disease cirrhosis. Years of alcohol abuse and heavy drinking is what ultimately claimed Hanneman's life - not a spider.

Hanneman died at a hospital in southern California on Thursday, May 2. Slayer released this official statement on the band's 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."

The "Angel of Death" rocker was bite by a spider on his arm while hanging out in a hot tub back in 2011. He suffered a severe bout of necrosis and had been recovering ever since. Hanneman underwent several operations last year to remove dead tissue from his arm in order to get rid of the bacteria. Therefore, several initial reports insinuated that this spider bite is what ultimately caused Hanneman's health to deteriorate. But in fact, it was Hanneman's ongoing battle with alcoholism that led to his premature death.

Slayer recently posted this update on their website:

"While he had his health struggles over the years, including the recent Necrotizing fasciitis infection (AKA flash eating disease) that devastated his well-being, Jeff and those close to him were not aware of the true extent of his liver condition until the last days of his life... Contrary to some reports, Jeff was not on a transplant list at the time of his passing, or at any time prior to that. In fact, by all accounts, it appeared that he had been improving - he was excited and looking forward to working on a new record."

Disease specialist Kent Sepkowitz recently told the The Daily Beast - "People with severe underlying medical problems, such as chronic liver disease, are at increased risk for necrotizing fasciitis... So rather than the 2011 illness influencing his death, it is more likely that the very illness that killed him - liver failure - was the same condition that predisposed him to the near-death experience two years ago."

For a more thorough understanding of Sepkowitz's reasoning, go here.

Details are still fuzzy, but Slayer plans on organizing a public celebration of Hanneman's life later this month. For more updated details, check out the band's Facebook.