Limp Bizkit Bassist Sam Rivers Dies at 48

Sam Rivers, the bassist for the influential nu-metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48, the band announced today.

“today we lost our brother,” Limp Bizkit wrote in a social media post. “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. 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.” The band did not disclose details surrounding his death. Rivers’ last social media post was yesterday, sharing a “Save The Date” video for a Limp Bizkit performance at the Rock for People festival in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, scheduled for June 2026.

Rivers previously left Limp Bizkit in 2015 due to liver disease, openly discussing his struggles with excessive drinking and ultimately receiving a liver transplant. “I got liver disease from excessive drinking … I had to leave Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so horrible,” he told Variety in 2018. He rejoined the band in 2018. The loss of Rivers is particularly poignant as Limp Bizkit recently achieved renewed chart success with their single “Making Love to Morgan Wallen,” which topped several Billboard charts in September.

Frontman Fred Durst recalled discovering Rivers playing bass at a Jacksonville, Florida bar, immediately recognizing his talent. “I saw Sam play and I was blown away,” Durst shared in a video posted today. “He’s playing a five-string bass too. I’d never really seen someone using a five-string bass… he was so smooth and good and he stood out. I could hear nothing else but Sam… everything disappeared besides his gift.” Durst said Rivers readily agreed to join his fledgling band, stating, “He looked at me and he says ,’Killer. I’m in. Let’s do it’.” Billboard has more on the band’s recent musical endeavors.

The band is expected to address the future of their touring schedule in the coming days.