SLAYER's Tom Araya Says He "Can't Wait" To Have Jeff Hanneman Back - "God, Where Are You? You Worked 30 Years For This"
July 19, 2012, 12 years ago
SLAYER frontman Tom Araya spoke to Billboard's Gary Graff about the band's upcoming 12th studio album and follow-up to 2009's World Painted Blood, as well discussing the status of guitarist Jeff Hanneman who is still in recovery mode from the flesh-eating necrotizing fasciitis that's sidelined him since early 2011.
Araya says Hanneman is currently free of the disease and is now going through rehabilitation. "Jeff's had a long ordeal," the bassist says. "He's working on his playing ability, and that's something that's gonna take some time. He's working on strengthening his arm and his ability to play. He can play, but it's not for an extended period of time. Like anything else when you have some kind of not only muscle damage but nerve damage, it takes a bit for a lot of your functions to come back. They're not going to come back and easy and quick."
Araya says EXODUS' Gary Holt has been doing a "fantastic job" filling in for Hanneman in concert, but he's looking forward to the day his longtime bandmate returns to the fold. "On this trip more than others it's dawned on me that he's not there," Araya explains. "The audiences have been very favorable, capacity crowds, really good. I just kind of look out and think, 'Jeff, God, where are you? You worked 30 years for this. You should be here.' He should be enjoying this part of his career. I can't wait for him to (be back)."
Read the entire interview at Billboard.com.
