Sam Rivers, founding bassist of Limp Bizkit, dies aged 48

“Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player – he was pure magic…”, the American bassist who co-founded Limp Bizkit in 1994 and helped shape the band’s signature nu-metal sound, passed away on 18 October 2025 at the age of 48. The band announced his death in an emotional statement, describing Rivers as their “brother, our bandmate, our heartbeat.”

Rivers had battled serious health issues in recent years, including liver disease brought on by excessive alcohol consumption and a liver transplant in 2017. While the exact cause of his death has not been officially disclosed, supporters noted that his long-standing liver condition may have played a role.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on 2 September 1977, Rivers joined forces with front-man Fred Durst and drummer John Otto to form Limp Bizkit. The band rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with a potent blend of rap-rock and metal, and Rivers’ bass lines were central to tracks like “Break Stuff,” “My Way” and “Nookie.”

His departure from the band in 2015 was officially attributed to degenerative disc disease, but Rivers later revealed in a 2020 interview that the true cause was liver failure. After recovering from the transplant, he returned to the band in 2018 and remained a member until his death.

In their tribute, Limp Bizkit said: “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.”

Rivers leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond chart-topping albums. He helped define an era, merge genres and inspire a generation of musicians to treat the bass not just as a rhythm tool but as a voice. His presence will live on in every groove and every stage he stood on.

It has been a tough week for rock music, following the loss of Sam Rivers and guitarist Ace Frehley, two musicians who left their mark on very different corners of the same world.

By Dara Christine – October 19 2025