Limp Bizkit Bassist Sam Rivers Passes Away at 48; Band Shares Heartfelt Statement

Limp Bizkit’s bassist, Sam Rivers, has passed away at the age of 48.

The band shared this unfortunate news through an Instagram statement, describing Rivers as ‘pure magic’ and a ‘once-in-a-lifetime kind of human’.

The statement read: “In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers. 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. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”

The band also conveyed in their statement that they had shared ‘so many moments’ with him and that each one was more meaningful because of his presence.

“He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human,” they stated. “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.”

The cause of Rivers’ death has not yet been disclosed.

Just one day before (October 18), Rivers posted on his Instagram, reflecting on the band’s album ‘Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water’, which was released nearly 25 years ago on October 17.

The musician wrote: “Nothing but love.”

Limp Bizkit was formed in 1994, with hit songs like ‘Rollin”, ‘Break Stuff’, and ‘Re-arranged’. The band received three Grammy nominations and sold over 40 million records globally.

After a break in 2006, Rivers worked as a producer with bands like Burn Season and the Embraced before officially leaving Limp Bizkit in 2015.

He explained his reasons for departing in his book, Raising Hell: Backstage Tales From the Lives of Metal Legends.

“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,” he shared with author Jon Widerhorn, via 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 the band in 2018 and remained with them until his passing.

Tributes have been flooding in for Rivers, with one individual writing online: “Rest in peace, Sam Rivers! Thank you for those amazing basslines!”

Another commented: “That bass was unmatched. Thank you for the music, Sam Rivers — rest in power.”

A third person added: “Real sad news about Sam Rivers. So lucky I’ve watched him perform a few times. Thinking of his loved ones and the band right now.

“Such a shame, Limp Bizkit have been performing a lot more over the years, they were meant to be touring again next year too. Just sad all round really.”

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