Bassist of iconic 2000s band Limp Bizkit dies aged 48

Sam Rivers, the bassist of popular nu-metal group Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48, according to a statement shared by his bandmates.

The band announced the news via social media on Sunday, paying tribute to Rivers as a “true legend of legends”. No cause of death has been cited.

Sam Rivers, founding member of Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48.Credit: San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

“Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” the band’s remaining members – Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and Leor Dimant (aka DJ Lethal) – wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Dimant also commented below the band’s statement, noting how heartbroken and shocked the band was, and asking fans to “respect the family’s privacy at this moment”.

Rivers was one of the founding members of Limp Bizkit, known for hits like Break Stuff and My Generation. The group formed in 1994 and went on to become one of the most influential music groups of the 90s and early 2000s. The band last played in Australia in December 2023 as part of the Good Things Festival.

The band went on hiatus between 2006 and 2009, at which time Rivers worked as a producer with other groups like Burn Season and the Embraced. In 2015, Rivers left the band due to health reasons that he later revealed were liver issues due to alcohol abuse. He reunited with Limp Bizkit in 2018 and continued performing with the group until his death.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.

Most Viewed in Culture

Loading