Limp Bizkit announce death of bassist, Sam Rivers, aged 48
Limp Bizkit have announced the tragic news that their bassist, Sam Rivers, has passed away at the age of 48.
They shared the news with their 1.8 million fans on Instagram, writing, “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.”
The post 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.
The nu-metal legends formed in 1994 in Jacksonville; Rivers joined the band at singer Fred Durst’s request, playing alongside drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, and turntablist DJ Lethal.
Bizkit continued in their tribute to Rivers, “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.”
Limp Bizkit’s latest release was their 2021 album, Still Sucks. However, they released a single this year, titled, ‘Making Love to Morgan Wallen’, which closes out with the lyrics, “I make this motherfucker diamond plated / Makin’ love to Morgan Wallen in an elevator / I’ll be turnin’ on you bitches like a generator / I’ll be the greatest motherfucker that you ever hated,” and tackles issues like capitalism and the Trump administration.
They rounded out the announcement of his passing with the words, “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
Rivers left Limp Bizkit in 2015 for several years as a result of liver disease from “excessive drinking”, he told author Jon Wiederhorn for the book, Raising Hell.
No cause of death has been revealed.
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