Sam Rivers, who served as the bassist of and provided backing vocals for nu metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48, the group announced on social media.
The Instagram tribute — from members Fred Durst (lead vocals), John Otto (drums), Wes Borland (guitar) and DJ Lethal (turntables) — mourns “our brother, our bandmate, our heartbeat.”
“Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic,” the statement continued. “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 homage read: “We shared so many moments — wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones — and every one of them meant more because Sam was there. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”
Concluding the statement, Limp Bizkit said, “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
The hard-rock/rap group was formed in 1994 in Jacksonville, Fla., becoming popular in its hometown’s underground music scene near the turn of the millennium. As a founding member of the three-time Grammy-nominated band, Rivers got into music while growing up alongside Otto and later met Durst when the two were working at fast food chain Chick-fil-A. Limp Bizkit’s permanent lineup was established two years later in 1996, when Borland and DJ Lethal were brought into the fold.
Best known for tracks such as “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle),” “Take A Look Around” and “My Way,” off of their third studio album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, the group’s most recognized track “Break Stuff” has been streamed nearly a billion times on Spotify. Since its formation, it has released six studio albums, the majority of which have been platinum-certified. Its latest release was “Battlefield: The After-party” for video game Battlefield 6.
Rivers briefly left the group in 2015 due to liver disease developed from excessive drinking. He subsequently received a liver transplant and rejoined the band three years later, playing with the group until his death.
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