Limp Bizkit announces the death of founding bassist Sam Rivers at 48

Limp Bizkit has announced the death of their bassist and co-founder, Sam Rivers, aged 48, sharing a tribute on social media that remembered him as the band’s “brother,” “heartbeat,” and a musician of “pure magic.” The group did not disclose a cause of death.

Tributes from bandmates and peers quickly followed, with DJ Lethal urging fans to celebrate Rivers’ life and respect his family’s privacy.

A Jacksonville native who co-founded Limp Bizkit in 1994, Rivers helped shape the nu-metal outfit’s signature low-end punch on era-defining releases at the turn of the millennium and remained a key onstage presence through the band’s resurgence in recent years.

Reports noted his prior battle with serious liver disease and a past liver transplant, but authorities and the band have not linked any health history to his passing.

News of Rivers’ death drew condolences across the rock community, underscoring his influence on a generation of heavy-music fans and the enduring appeal of the band’s catalogue.

Sources: The Guardian; People; New York Post; Sky News; BBC News