There’s no one better to talk to about the potential harm of a spider bite than Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman.  As reported by the Rolling Stone, the band’s guitarist will have to pull out of their forthcoming world tour because of the flesh-eating disease procured from the spider bite.

Slayer performing at the Big 4 festival in Indio, CA. 23 April 2011.

The best way to understand how truly debilitating this spider bite has been to Hanneman is by reading the open letter posted on Slayer’s website. Although Hanneman is back to playing the guitar now, there was originally talk of amputating his entire arm.  Aside from that, he’s been through a medically-induced coma, he even had to relearn how to walk.

Although Hanneman briefly joined his band at The Big Four Festival, fans have been aching to see Slayer in full form.  In the meantime, Exodus guitarist Gary Holt will be taking the stage with Slayer to fill in Hanneman’s position on their tour, which kicks off May 25 in London.  The band has shown deep loyalty to Hanneman throughout the ordeal and hopes to include him on the new album that they will be tracking later this year.