Sam Rivers, Limp Bizkit bassist, dies aged 48
Sam Rivers, the bassist and founding member of rock-rap band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48.
The band paid an emotional tribute on Instagram on Saturday evening, calling Rivers their “brother” and describing him as “pure magic.”
“In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers. Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” the statement read.
“Sam wasn’t just our bass player — he was the pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
The band added: “From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”
The statement concluded: “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends. — Fred, Wes, John & DJ Lethal.”
The cause of Rivers’ death has not yet been revealed.
Rivers had previously left Limp Bizkit in 2015 after being diagnosed with liver disease related to excessive drinking, undergoing a liver transplant before rejoining the band in 2018.
A founding member alongside Fred Durst and John Otto in 1994, Rivers played on all six of Limp Bizkit’s albums, including Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, four of which achieved platinum or multi-platinum status.
The band are best known for hits including “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Take a Look Around.”
