" Guitarist Jeff Hanneman has since said that South of Heaven was the only album the band members discussed before writing the music.

Slayer has toyed with the idea of creating a live set mixed with selections from the album and 1990's Seasons in the Abyss, though Hanneman has said it's something which hasn't been " seriously considered.

Written by Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King for the 1986 studio album Reign in Blood, the concept deals with religion, specifically said to be about overthrowing Heaven.

As an almost permanent addition to their live sets, King and Hanneman said it was their favorite song to play live.

D. X. Ferris said that " when Hanneman wrote the song, he envisioned a scene from a dark street or bloody back alley ," and later went on to say that the song " described a banished soul awakened and hungry for vengeance.

" When one of the guitarists broke a string Araya would hand them the bass, Hanneman stating " We ’ d argue about it, too — like, ' I wanna play bass for a while!

King and Hanneman create and arrange the music with additional arrangement from drummer Dave Lombardo and sometimes Araya.

In 1984, Hanneman, Dave Lombardo and Suicidal Tendencies's guitarist Rocky George had a brief punk side project called " Pap Smear "-the band was due to start recording when Hanneman was advised to avoid the side project by Slayer's producer, Rick Rubin, who is quoted as saying " Ahhhh, don ’ t do it, man — this is the kind of thing that breaks bands up!

Araya held concern about the lyrics that King penned to " In the Name of God ", voicing his opinion to guitarist Hanneman.

Hanneman explained that " it's about a guy who's in Purgatory ' cause he was cast out of Heaven.

After the session was over Jeff Hanneman approached him and the two began playing Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs with the session drummer.

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman used two of the four punk songs he had written in 1984 and 1985 as part of a side project called Pap Smear, while King and vocalist Tom Araya wrote an original song titled " Gemini ".

" Hanneman took Rubin's advice, and later used two of the songs on Slayer's 1996 album Undisputed Attitude.

While touring with Motörhead, Hanneman discovered Motörhead vocalist Lemmy's interest in medals, and the two discussed medal designs, weapons and tactics used by the Wehrmacht.

* Jeff Hanneman – lead and rhythm guitar

The back cover featured ' side 666 ' and inverted crosses, with Hanneman playing his guitar.

* Jeff Hanneman – lead and rhythm guitar

* Jeff Hanneman – lead and rhythm guitar

A 3 x 6 stack of Marshall Amplification | Marshall guitar cabinets for Jeff Hanneman of Slayer

He has his own signature guitar, the ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature model.

* Jeff Hanneman – guitar

* Jeff Hanneman – guitar

* Jeff Hanneman – guitar

* Jeff Hanneman – guitar

* Jeff Hanneman – guitar

Influenced by punk music growing up, Hanneman stated that the genre influenced Slayer's sound to create a faster and more aggressive approach.

Hanneman wrote the music for most of the band's fan favorites, songs such as " South of Heaven ", " War Ensemble ", " Raining Blood ", " Angel of Death ", " Mandatory Suicide ", and " Seasons in the Abyss ", which have all become staples for live performance at Slayer shows.

Hanneman has stated that writing lyrics and music is a " free for all "; " It's all just whoever comes up with what.

" The song's music was written solely by guitarist Hanneman ( who is also a primary writer of the song's lyrics ), who presented both hostility and anger in his writing.

Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King.

" Behind the Crooked Cross " is rarely played live as Hanneman hates the track, though King has always wanted to play it " because it's got a cool intro " despite it not being his favorite song.

" The book, a chronology of the great guitarists of rock which includes both Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, observed the band's evolution in comparison with their previous album, Show No Mercy, saying, " The musicianship is improved, as is lead singer Tom Araya's voice, making the band sound less like hacks and more like metal fiends.

Jeffrey John " Jeff " Hanneman ( born January 31, 1964 ) is a rhythm / lead guitarist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Slayer.

Hanneman grew up in Los Angeles in a family of war veterans, and his fascination with warfare is attributed to his upbringing.

Kathryn stays at home when Slayer tours ; Hanneman claims to prefer this, saying that when he comes home, she is " all brand new again ".

Hanneman is a long-time fan of the Oakland Raiders.

In the light of this situation and Slayer's upcoming participation in the Australian Soundwave Festival tour that was set to kick off on February 26, the band made the tough decision to play the dates without Hanneman, and on February 16, 2011 brought on Gary Holt ( guitarist of the band Exodus ) to fill in for him until he has fully recuperated and is ready to return to the lineup.

" Raining Blood ", along with Reign in Bloods opening track " Angel of Death ", is an almost permanent addition to Slayer's live set-list, and is Hanneman and King's favorite track to play live.

Other notable replies have been " Help Me " ( Tom Morello ), " You're nuts " ( Glenn Danzig ), " You're bizarre " ( Jeff Hanneman of Slayer ), " Radio free fucking Europe " ( Courtney Love of Hole ), " Thank you?

Hanneman has contributed both lyrical and musical material to every Slayer album and wrote the songs " Raining Blood ", " War Ensemble " " South of Heaven " " Seasons in the Abyss " and " Angel of Death ", which are played at almost every live Slayer show.

Hanneman and Slayer vocalist / bassist Tom Araya are reformed cocaine and pill abusers.