Just a few weeks prior to his passing, Limp Bizkit’s bassist, Sam Rivers, shared a serene moment with his fans online by posting a picture from a summer visit to London on Instagram. In the photo uploaded on August 22, the 48-year-old musician appeared to be enjoying his time in the city, captioning it with warm wishes for everyone and expressing his love for London and his band family. The post has now become a platform for fans to pay their respects.
The band confirmed Rivers’ death on a Saturday without disclosing the cause. His bandmates released a touching statement, emphasizing that Rivers was more than just a bass player but the heartbeat of the group. They described him as a magical presence, providing stability in tumultuous times and bringing soul to their music.
Rivers, a co-founder of Limp Bizkit from Jacksonville, Florida, alongside Fred Durst and John Otto in 1994, played a significant role in the band’s success with albums like Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. Despite his health struggles, including a battle with liver disease due to heavy drinking, Rivers underwent a life-saving liver transplant in 2017 and reunited with Limp Bizkit in 2018, performing until his untimely death.
DJ Lethal, the band’s longtime turntablist, also paid tribute to Rivers, urging fans to honor his memory by listening to the music he helped create. The band’s legacy lives on through their influential rock music of the late ’90s and early 2000s, earning multiple Grammy nominations, a Billboard Music Award, and several platinum albums.
As the music world mourns the loss of Sam Rivers, his impact on Limp Bizkit and the music industry will forever be remembered.