A co-founding member of a popular rock/nu metal band is dead at age 48.
Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers died on Saturday, the group announced on social media. A cause of death was not given, but Rivers reportedly had a history of alcohol-related liver disease.
“Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” Limp Bizkit said. “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.”
Rivers began playing music in middle school as a tuba player before switching to bass and guitar. He and singer-rapper Fred Durst initially formed a band called Malachi Sage in Florida, then formed Limp Bizkit in 1994 with drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland and, later, former House of Pain turntablist DJ Lethal.
Limp Bizkit became one of the biggest names in the late ‘90s nu metal movement, combining rap, rock and metal on songs like “Nookie,” “Take a Look Around,” “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle),” “Re-Arranged,” “Break Stuff,” “My Generation” and a cover of George Michael’s “Faith.” The band was nominated for three Grammy Awards, performed with artists like KoRn and Sugar Ray, appeared on MTV’s “Total Request Live,” and headlined Woodstock ‘99 in Rome, N.Y., where Limp Bizkit was partly blamed for the festival’s violence that included fires, vandalism and rape allegations.
When Borland briefly left the band in 2001, Rivers took over guitar on the 2003 album “Results May Vary,” featuring a cover of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes.” Rivers also worked as a producer for Florida-based bands Burn Season and Embraced, but retired from performing in 2015 for health reasons.
“I got liver disease from excessive drinking … I had to leave Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so horrible, and a few months after that I realized I had to change everything because I had really bad liver disease,” Rivers told Variety. “I quit drinking and did everything the doctors told me. I got treatment for the alcohol and got a liver transplant, which was a perfect match.”
Rivers rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018 and remained a member of the band until his death. Limp Bizkit released a new album, “Still Sucks,” in 2021 and recently returned to the charts with the single “Making Love to Morgan Wallen.”
“He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends,” the band wrote. “And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory,” the band continued. “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
“We love you Sam Rivers,” DJ Lethal added. “Please respect the family’s privacy at this moment. Give Sam his flowers and play Sam Rivers basslines all day! We are in shock. Rest in power my brother! You will live on through your music and the lives you helped save with your music, charity work and friendships. We are heartbroken. Enjoy every millisecond of life. It’s not guaranteed.”
