Limp Bizkit bassist and founding member Sam Rivers has died at the age of 48, the band confirmed in an emotional statement shared on Instagram. The post, signed by members Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, and DJ Lethal, announced Rivers’ passing on October 18, though no cause of death has been disclosed.
In their tribute, the band remembered Rivers as “our brother, our bandmate, and our heartbeat.” The statement continued, “Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player − he was pure magic. The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound. From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced.”
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Rivers co-founded Limp Bizkit with Durst in 1994, helping shape the band’s signature nu metal sound. Their debut album, “Three Dollar Bill, Y’all,” released in 1997, launched them into global fame.
Rivers’ most recent public appearances included Limp Bizkit’s performance at the Reading Festival in England in August, which he described on social media as “such a beautiful experience.” His final Instagram post, shared on October 17, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band’s hit album “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.” “Nothing but love,” he wrote.
In 2020, Rivers opened up about his health struggles in the book “Raising Hell: Backstage Tales From the Lives of Metal Legends.” He revealed that he was diagnosed with liver disease caused by excessive drinking, which forced him to step away from the band between 2015 and 2018. After receiving a liver transplant, Rivers shared that he had turned his life around, saying he “quit drinking and did everything the doctors told me.”
Limp Bizkit’s message concluded with a heartfelt farewell: “Sam was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human — a true legend of legends. His spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory. We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
Rivers leaves behind a powerful legacy as one of the key figures who defined Limp Bizkit’s sound — and an enduring influence on a generation of rock fans.
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