Limp Bizkit guitarist was 48 years old
Sam Rivers, who served as bassist and provided backing vocals for nu metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48, the group announced on social media.
The Instagram tribute — from members Fred Durst (lead vocals), John Otto (drums), Wes Borland (guitar), and DJ Lethal (turntables) — mourns “our brother, our bandmate, and our heartbeat.”
“Sam Rivers was not just our bass player, he was pure magic,” the statement continued. “The pulse under every song, the calm amidst the chaos, the soul in the sound. From the first note we played together, Sam brought a light and rhythm that can never be replaced. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, and his heart enormous.”
The tribute read: “We shared so many moments – the wild, the quiet, the beautiful – and every one of them meant so much more because Sam was there. He was a once-in-a-lifetime human being. A true legend. His spirit will live on forever in every groove, in every stage, in every memory.”
At the end of the statement, Limp Bizkit said: “We love you, Sam. We will always carry you with us. Rest assured, brother, your music never ends.”
Formed in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, the rock/rap group became popular in its hometown’s underground music scene around the turn of the millennium. As a founding member of the three-time Grammy Award-nominated band, Rivers got into music while growing up alongside Otto and later met Durst when the two worked at fast food chain Chick-fil-A. Limp Bizkit’s permanent lineup was established two years later in 1996, when Borland and DJ Lethal were brought into the fold.
They are best known for songs like “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)”, “Take A Lookaround” and “My Way” from their third album. Chocolate starfish and hot dog flavored waterthe group’s most popular song, “Break Stuff,” has been streamed nearly a billion times on Spotify. Since its formation, it has released six studio albums, most of which have been certified platinum. Its most recent release was “Battlefield: The After-party” for the video game Battlefield 6.
Rivers briefly left the group in 2015 due to liver disease caused by heavy drinking. He subsequently received a liver transplant and rejoined the band three years later, playing with the group until his death.