Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has pulled out of the band's forthcoming world tour as he recovers from complications related to a suspected spider bite last year.
Hanneman has been unable to tour with Slayer since contracting necrotising fasciitis, known as flesh-eating disease, from an infected spider-bite last year. According to a new post on Slayer's website, Hanneman almost died of the infection, and doctors discussed amputating his arm. "He was in a medically induced coma for a few days and had several operations to remove the dead and dying tissue from his arm," the band wrote. "Understand, he was in really, really bad shape."
Since then, Hanneman has undergone several skin grafts and relearned how to walk, joining Slayer for a one-off performance at Coachella. But he has not fully recovered, the group said on Tuesday. "While Jeff's been doing some writing and has been coming to rehearsal over the past several weeks, he has decided he needs to take more time to continue his rehab," they explained. Exodus guitarist Gary Holt will continue as Hanneman's substitute when the tour kicks off in London on 25 May.
"[I] didn't even feel [the bite]," Hanneman told Classic Rock magazine in December. Within an hour, it was clear he had a problem: "I could see the flesh corrupting," he said. "The arm was real hot." Arriving at hospital, Hanneman's doctor turned out to be a Slayer fan. "[He said] 'First I am going to save your life. Then I am going to save your arm. Then I am going to save your career.'"
Hanneman added: "Everything that could go wrong this year did, but you know, it turned out OK. Satan had my back."
