Sam Rivers, Limp Bizkit Bassist, Dies at 48: Band Mourns “The Soul in the Sound”
Sam Rivers, the foundational bassist for the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48. The band shared the heartbreaking news on social media over the weekend, though details about the circumstances of his death remain private.
In a collective Instagram post, the band remembered Rivers as “pure magic” and “the soul in the sound,” praising the effortless talent and massive heart he brought to the group from the very first note they played together.
Frontman Fred Durst posted a tearful tribute video recounting his first encounter with Rivers at a Jacksonville Beach club. “He really did have an impact on the world, and his music and his gift is the one that’s going to keep on giving,” Durst said. “I just love him so much.”
Rivers had been candid about his struggles with alcohol, which led to liver disease. He left Limp Bizkit in 2015 and underwent a liver transplant. After his recovery, he reunited with the band in 2018.
Known for merging alternative rock, metal, and rap, Limp Bizkit exploded onto the late ’90s music scene with a unique, high-energy sound and irreverent humor — evident in album titles like Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. Just last month, the band released a new single, “Making Love to Morgan Wallen.”
Durst also reflected on their shared love of grunge music, citing bands like Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots. “He had this kind of ability to pull this beautiful sadness out of the bass that I’d never heard,” Durst said.
The band is scheduled to kick off a Central and South American tour in late November, starting in Mexico City. Rivers’ unmistakable sound and deep presence will no doubt be felt as a lasting echo throughout Limp Bizkit’s music — and far beyond.