On 18 October, metal band Limp Bizkit announced their bassist and founding member Sam Rivers had died at the age of 48, and now new details about what happened have emerged
New details about the death of Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers have emerged. The musician, who was described as “pure magic” by his bandmates, died on Saturday 18 October.
A cause of death has yet to be revealed but a spokesperson for the St. Johns County department of the Florida Fire Rescue has revealed new details.
They told the press that they responded to a call for a “non-responsive person in cardiac arrest” on Saturday and that deputies “responded to an attended death” at the same address.
READ MORE: Limp Bizkit star Sam Rivers’ final photos revealed before tragic death aged 48READ MORE: Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers dead: Band pays emotional tribute to ‘true legend’
An ‘attended death’ is the term used to describe a situation where the person who has died was receiving medical care for a serious or life-threatening illness that was expected to lead to death in a short period of time, most likely days or months rather than years.
As of yet, it is unknown what illness Rivers may have had. The bassist was one of the founding members of metal band Limp Bizkit when it formed in 1994.
Rivers’ bandmates, Fred Durst, John Otto, Wes Borland and DJ Lethal, announced the death with an emotional statement. They wrote: “‘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.
“We shared so many moments — wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones — and every one of them meant more because Sam was there.” They added that he was a “once-in-a-lifetime kind of human” and a “true legend”.
The statement ended with a promise that Rivers’ spirit would live on. “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. — Fred, Wes, John & DJ Lethal.”
Limp Bizkit was formed after Rivers met Durst while they both worked in a Chick-Fil-A. Their first drummer was Otto and Borland and Lethal joined the band two years later. Their debut album, titled Three Dolla Bill, Y’all, was released in 1997.
By 2006, the band was on a hiatus, but they reunited in 2009. They have received three Grammy nominations, including Best Rock Album.
Rivers left the band in 2015 and rejoined in 2018. After he rejoined, he revealed that his absence was due to a battle with liver disease. “I got liver disease from excessive drinking,” he shared in a book written by rock writer Jon Wiederhorn.
“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 added that he had to have a liver transplant. “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.”
But, sadly, Rivers’ home life “got so bad” he started drinking again, to the extent that he got a warning from doctors. “‘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.'”
If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, advice and support can be found at alcoholchange.org.uk
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