Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit Passes Away at 48

Sam Rivers, bassist and one of the key founding members of the band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48.

On Saturday, the nu metal group, which features vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, and DJ Lethal, announced this heartbreaking news. Their social media post included a photo of Rivers performing, stating, “Today we lost a brother. We lost a bandmate. We lost our heartbeat.” They went on to express that Rivers was much more than just a bassist, describing him as “pure magic.” Every song, they noted, had a pulse thanks to him, as he brought an irreplaceable rhythm and light from the very first note they played together.

The tribute continued, reflecting on the countless moments they shared—some wild, some quiet, and some beautiful—each made more special by Rivers’ presence. “He was a once-in-a-lifetime person. A true legend among legends,” they remarked. “His spirit will live on forever in every groove, on every stage, in every memory.” The heartfelt message concluded with, “Sam, we love you and we will always have you. Don’t worry, brother. Your music will never end.”

Representatives for the band were not immediately available for comment.

Previously, Rivers had discussed why he left Limp Bizkit between 2015 and 2018, revealing that he developed liver disease due to excessive drinking. In his book, he mentioned the challenges he faced during that period. “I had to quit Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so bad,” he stated. “I stopped drinking and did everything the doctors told me to do. I went to alcohol treatment and had a liver transplant, and it was perfect.” This journey, it seems, was quite a turning point in his life.