The founding bassist of Limp Bizkit, Sam Rivers, who helped define the nu-metal sound of the late 1990s, has died at 48 after years of health struggles.
Limp Bizkit bassist and founding member Sam Rivers has died at the age of 48, the band confirmed in a heartfelt post on social media Saturday.
While no official cause of death was disclosed, Rivers had a long history of alcohol-related liver disease.
“Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” the band’s statement read. “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.”
Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1977, Rivers first began playing music in middle school, starting with the tuba before transitioning to bass. He played alongside his childhood friend and future Limp Bizkit drummer John Otto, with whom he initially believed he was related.
In high school, Rivers became close friends with Fred Durst, a budding rapper and frontman. The two formed a short-lived group called Malachi Sage before joining forces with Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, and DJ Lethal in 1994 to create Limp Bizkit.
The band quickly rose to fame during the late 1990s nu-metal explosion, blending hip-hop and heavy rock with irreverent lyrics and explosive live performances. After catching the attention of Korn, Limp Bizkit signed with Flip Records and released their debut album Three Dollar Bill Y’all in 1997.
The record’s underground success and relentless touring earned them a strong following, which exploded with the release of their 1999 album Significant Other. Fueled by the hit single “Nookie,” it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making the group one of the most successful acts of the era.
Their fame was accompanied by controversy, particularly during their Woodstock ’99 set, which was marred by rioting and violence. Despite criticism, Limp Bizkit continued their commercial success with Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water in 2000.
Internal tensions, however, led to guitarist Borland’s temporary departure and Rivers’ eventual health struggles.
Rivers left the band in 2015 due to severe liver disease caused by excessive drinking, later receiving a liver transplant after undergoing treatment. “I quit drinking and did everything the doctors told me,” he told journalist Jon Wiederhorn. “I got treatment for the alcohol and got a liver transplant, which was a perfect match.”
He rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018 and remained active until his passing. The band’s tribute concluded: “He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends. We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
