Limp Bizkit founding member Sam Rivers has died, according to a statement from the band. He was 48.
Rivers’ bandmates Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and DJ Lethal released a joint statement on Saturday, October 18, announcing the loss of their “brother.” They did not specify a cause of death.
“Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” Limp Bizkit’s statement read. “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.”
They continued, “From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
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Rivers founded Limp Bizkit with vocalist Durst, 55, and drummer Otto, 48, in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1994 and he became a mainstay on all of their studio albums. (The trio added guitarist Borland and turntablist DJ Lethal to complete the classic lineup in 1996.) However, the bassist announced he was taking an extended hiatus from the group in 2015 to deal with health issues.
Rivers subsequently revealed in Jon Wiederhorn’s book Raising Hell (Backstage Tales From the Lives of Metal Legends) that the long-term effects of drinking alcohol caused his departure from Limp Bizkit.
“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 acknowledged. “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 eventually rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018 and remained with the group until his death. In their memorial statement, Durst and his fellow bandmates looked back on Rivers’s legacy.
“We shared so many moments — wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones — and every one of them meant more because Sam was there,” they wrote via Instagram. “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 band concluded, “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
Limp Bizkit’s turntablist DJ Lethal, 52, subsequently encouraged fans to give the band and Rivers’ family privacy as they grieve.
“We love you Sam rivers,” he responded via Instagram. “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.”
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Borland offered his own tribute with throwback footage of Rivers shot during the Vans’ Warped Tour back in the day, along with a “broken heart emoji” via his Instagram.
Limp Bizkit are currently scheduled to kick off their Gringo Papi Tour of Latin America at Mexico City’s Explanada del Estadio Banorte on November 29. The seven-date tour is also expected to feature Yungblud, 311, Ecca Vandal, Riff Raff and Slay Squad.
