Limp Bizkit's founding bassist Sam Rivers dies at 48
What's the story
Sam Rivers, the founding bassist of the American rap-rock band Limp Bizkit, has died at 48. The news was confirmed by the band in a heartbreaking social media post. They remembered him as an irreplaceable force in their journey and expressed their grief over his untimely demise. The cause of death has not been disclosed yet.
Tribute
'He was pure magic'
In their Instagram post, Limp Bizkit wrote, "Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat. 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." "From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced."
Legacy
'We love you, Sam'
The band further wrote, "We shared so many moments - wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones - and every one of them meant more because Sam was there." "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." "We love you, Sam. We'll carry you with us always. Rest easy brother. Your music never ends."
Career highlights
Formation of the band
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Rivers's love for music started in middle school when he played the tuba. Rivers met frontman Fred Durst in Jacksonville, Florida, where they played together in a local band called Malachi Sage. After that project ended in 1994, they formed Limp Bizkit with drummer John Otto. Guitarist Wes Borland and DJ Lethal later joined the lineup. The band's debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all (1997), introduced their unique blend of rock and hip-hop.
Health challenges
His health struggles
Rivers left the band in 2015, with initial reports attributing his absence to back problems. However, he later revealed that he had actually been battling liver disease due to years of heavy drinking. His condition worsened by 2017, leading to a liver transplant at UCLA Hospital. Despite these challenges, Rivers made a remarkable recovery and rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018 after years of treatment.
Collaboration
Collaboration with Otto had deep impact on his life
Rivers's friendship with Otto (48), whose jazz drumming inspired him, fueled his passion and had a significant impact on his career. Despite rumors of Otto and Rivers being cousins, a documentary later clarified they weren't actually related. Meanwhile, Rivers's last Instagram post was just a day ago. May he rest in peace.