Former Members

Jeff Hanneman

Jeffrey John Hanneman (January 31, 1964 – May 2, 2013) was an American musician, best known as one of the founding members and guitarists of Slayer. Hanneman composed both music and lyrics for every Slayer album until 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

In 1981, Hanneman, who was working as a telemarketer at the time, met Kerry King, when King was auditioning for a southern rock band called "Ledger". King remembered: "As I was leaving, I saw Jeff just kinda standing around playing guitar, and he was playing stuff that I was into, like Def Leppard's 'Wasted' and AC/DC and Priest". After the try-out session, the two guitarists started talking and playing Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs. Slayer was born when King asked "Why don't we start our own band?", to which Hanneman replied "Fuck yeah!”

In early 2011, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis on one of his arms. Reports linked this illness with a spider bite he claimed to have received while in a friend's hot tub. Around one week later, an intoxicated Hanneman showed the arm to his wife, who recalled "...and I just freaked out when I saw (it). It was bright red and three times the normal size. I said, 'Jeff, we need to go now. We need to get you to the ER.' Prior to surgery, hospital staff informed his wife that he may not survive. Though he did survive, his wife says the illness hindered his ability to play guitar, leading to depression.

Hanneman died of liver failure on May 2, 2013, and on May 9, 2013, the official cause of death was announced as alcohol-related cirrhosis. Hanneman and his family had apparently been unaware of the extent of the condition until shortly before his death. Slayer expressed shock, stating in a release that "it appeared that he had been improving – he was excited and looking forward to working on a new record." Holt eventually became Hanneman's permanent replacement in Slayer, remaining with the band for the next six years until they disbanded after finishing their final tour in 2019.

Dave Lombardo

When he was 16, Lombardo's friends told him about a guitar player, Kerry King, who lived a few blocks away. Lombardo dropped by King's house to meet him. He introduced himself, mentioned he played drums, and that he wanted to start a band. King jammed with Lombardo and showed Lombardo his guitar collection. The two quickly realized they shared the same musical interests.

After rehearsing in Lombardo's garage several times, King introduced the drummer to another guitarist: Jeff Hanneman. The three rehearsed several times before they decided they needed a singer and bass player. King had previously played with Tom Araya in a band called Quits and decided to introduce Araya to Lombardo and Hanneman.

With Slayer's line-up now complete, Lombardo stabbed out the now iconic logo and the band began to develop their groundbreaking sound. Lombardo left the band during their tour to promote their third album Reign in Blood, stating, "I wasn't making any money. I figured if we were gonna be doing this professionally, on a major label, I wanted my rent and utilities paid.” Lombardo initially refused to join back before eventually returning to the band in 1987.

He left the band again in 1992. Lombardo left Slayer because he wanted to be present for his first child's birth. Lombardo told his bandmates at the beginning of the pregnancy, stating he would be unable to tour the last two weeks of September.

Jon Dette

Jonathan Dette (born April 19, 1970) is an American heavy metal drummer best known for his time in Slayer.

Dette auditioned for Slayer, following Paul Bostaph's departure from the band, a goal he had set since he was 17, and eventually got the opportunity to join the band. With the band, he performed consistently until 1997, when he was fired from the band due to a fallout with the members at the time, which led to Bostaph returning to the band.