LOS ANGELES — Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of the thrash-metal band Slayer, died yesterday of liver failure. He was 49.

A Slayer spokeswoman said Hanneman died at a Los Angeles hospital with his wife, Kathy, by his side.

His ailment may have been complicated by a spider bite he had not treated immediately, but no autopsy has been performed yet, the rep said. The bite had threatened to take his arm.

Hanneman was writing songs with the band in anticipation of recording an album later this year.