gehen auf Tour. Fett! Nicht so geil: Jeff Hanneman wird nicht dabei sein. Warum das so ist, erklären Slayer in einem offenen Brief. Fans können sich die Antwort aber wohl ohnehin denken.

Der Spinnenbiss und die nachfolgende Infektion machen dem Gitarristen immer noch zu schaffen, heißt es in dem Statement (das ihr unten in voller Länge findet). Zwar geht es ihm deutlich besser, er schrieb Songs und probte mit der Band. Doch für eine Tour mit Slayer fühlt sich Jeff Hanneman noch nicht bereit.

Wie lang das noch dauern wird, beschreiben Slayer in dem offenen Brief mit ehrlichen Worten: „So lange, wie es dauert.“ Jeff Hanneman soll sich zunächst vollständig erholen. Bis dahin vertritt ihn ein guter Bekannter.

Gary Holt von wird bis auf Weiteres bei Slayer die Gitarre bedienen. Das bringt natürlich Exodus in Bedrängnis. Doch auch die machen das Beste aus der Situation und rekrutieren Ex-Bandmitglied Rick Hunolt für die kommenden Shows.

Lest hier im Wortlaut, was Slayer euch zu sagen haben:

„Slayer fans everywhere — it’s time to let you know what is going on with our brother Jeff Hanneman.

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. 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. So, understand, he was in really, really bad shape. It’s been about a year since he got out of the hospital, and since then, he had to learn to walk again, he’s had several painful skin grafts, he’s been in rehab doing exercises to regain the strength in his arm; but best of all, he’s been playing guitar. We were all excited when he joined us onstage for the encore a year ago at the ‚Big Four‘ show at Coachella. Since then, we’ve given him all the time and support he’s needed to continue his rehab so he can come back to the band fully recovered and able to deliver the kind of shows we all want him to.

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. While we want him back onstage with the band, all of us support his decision. So, we’re very grateful that Gary Holt will continue to fill in for Jeff, and will tour with us until Jeff completes his rehab and is ready to return. How long will that be? The best and most honest answer we can give you is ‚as long as it takes.‘ We also wanted you to know that we’ve been doing some writing and recording for the next SLAYER album — we’ve tracked a few songs, and will finish the album when we’re off the road later this year. Gary will join us on tour in Europe and the U.K. in May and June, and then we’ll all see you on this summer’s Mayhem Festival.“

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