American nu metal band Limp Bizkit took to Instagram to announce their bassist, Sam Rivers, has passed away at age 48 just a month before they were set to go on tour
Sam Rivers, the bassist of Limp Bizkit, has tragically died at the age of 48.
The Florida-born nu metal band announced the sad news on Saturday, October 19, without revealing the cause of his sudden death.
This comes just months after lead singer Fred Durst explained the long-debated meaning behind their band name. The band shared the heartbreaking news with their fans on Instagram, stating, “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.”
This tragic news follows the recent death of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley at 74, who suffered a terrible fall just days after bandmate Gene Simmons survived a crash.
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The band continued to pay tribute to Rivers, saying, “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. We shared so many moments – wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones – and every one of them meant more because Sam was there.”, reports the Mirror US.
“He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends,” they added. “And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.” The band concluded their heartfelt tribute by saying: “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends. – Fred, Wes, John and DJ Lethal.”
The revelation emerges just a month before Limp Bizkit embarks on their Gringo Papi South America tour.
Much of Sam’s existence revolved around music. Throughout his teenage years, he performed alongside the band’s drummer, John Otto. He hadn’t encountered Fred until the early 1990s when both were employed at the same Chick-fil-A restaurant.
In 1994, the trio formed the founding members of Limp Bizkit. It took another two years before they recruited guitarist Wes Borland and DJ Lethal to complete their lineup. Across the following two decades, the band achieved global stardom, releasing chart-topping tracks including Break Stuff, Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle), and My Way.
In 2015, Sam temporarily departed the group owing to his battle with liver disease stemming from years of heavy drinking. Reflecting on being hospitalised due to his ailment, he told Metal Injection: “It got so bad I had to go to UCLA Hospital, and the doctor said, ‘If you don’t stop, you’re going to die. And right now, you’re looking like you need a new liver.’
He ultimately rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018 after concentrating on improving his wellbeing. He told Loudwire: “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. I’m back, and I feel amazing.”
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