Legendary Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman died from liver failure in a Southern California hospital earlier this morning. Hanneman was 49 years old.

Slayer, for whom Hanneman wrote songs "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood", confirmed the guitarist's death on their 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, co-founder of Slayer, one of the biggest thrash metal bands of all time, was bitten by a spider a little over three years ago. The band posted a letter on the offical Slayer website describing Hanneman's condition to fants.

"As you know, Jeff was bitten by a spider more than a year ago, but what you may not have known was that for a couple of days after he went to the ER, things were touch-and-go. There was talk that he might have to have his arm amputated, and we didn't know if he was going to pull through at all."

Since news of Hanneman's death, an outpouring of support and praise for the late great Slayer guitarist has dominated social media.

"Jeff Hanneman will always be a metal god," rocker Andrew W.K. posted on Twitter.

"The music industry has lost a true trailblazer, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his bandmates and fans around the world who mourn his untimely passing," said Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy.

Slayer have a string of tour dates coming up this summer, including festivals in Europe in June and August, and a South American tour this September.

R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman

Jeff Hanneman and Slayer Performing "Raining Blood"