Sam Rivers, the founding bassist of the influential nu-metal band Limp Bizkit, died on October 18, 2025, at the age of 48. The band confirmed his passing on social media, though they did not disclose the cause or circumstances of his death. The news has sent shockwaves through the rock and metal communities, with tributes pouring in from fans and fellow musicians worldwide.
"Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat," Limp Bizkit wrote in a heartfelt Instagram 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." The message, signed by frontman Fred Durst, guitarist Wes Borland, drummer John Otto, and DJ Lethal, continued: "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."
Rivers’ journey with Limp Bizkit began in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was born on September 2, 1977. He started playing music as a teenager, and his talent quickly caught the attention of Fred Durst, who was searching for musicians to bring his vision of a new band to life. Durst recalled in a video tribute posted on October 20, "I went into this little tiny bar/pub where this band was playing at Jax Beach called Pier 7. And there Sam was on the stage with his band, killing it on the bass. And I went, 'Oh my gosh, this guy's amazing.'"
Durst was particularly struck by Rivers’ mastery of the five-string bass, a rarity at the time. "He's playing a five-string bass, too. I'd never really seen someone using a five-string bass and just, he was so smooth and good and he stood out, and I could hear nothing else but Sam, you know? Everything disappeared besides his gift," Durst said. After the performance, Durst approached Rivers to pitch his idea for a new band. Rivers' response was immediate and enthusiastic: "Killer. I'm in. Let's do it."
Rivers soon invited his cousin, drummer John Otto, to join the fledgling group. Guitarist Wes Borland came on board in 1994, and DJ Lethal joined in 1996, completing the classic lineup that would soon make waves in the music world. Together, they developed a sound that fused heavy metal, hip-hop, funk, and punk, a blend that would come to define the late-1990s nu-metal movement. Their offbeat humor and confrontational style, coupled with Durst’s aggressive vocals and Borland’s theatrical costumes, set them apart from their contemporaries.
Limp Bizkit’s 1997 debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all, introduced their raw energy to a growing fanbase. But it was their 1999 follow-up, Significant Other, that catapulted them into the mainstream. Featuring hit singles like "Break Stuff" and "Nookie," the album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album and solidified the band's place in rock history. Rivers’ basslines, described by Durst as having the "ability to pull this beautiful sadness out of the bass that I've never heard," were central to the band’s signature sound.
Their third album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, released in 2000, debuted with record-breaking sales and included anthems like "My Generation," "Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)," and "My Way." The band's popularity soared, and they became a staple of late-‘90s and early-2000s rock. At their peak, Limp Bizkit received three Grammy nominations and saw several singles, including "Rollin'" and "Nookie," land on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Despite their success, life on the road took its toll. In 2015, Rivers left the band due to serious health issues stemming from excessive drinking. "I got liver disease from excessive drinking ... I had to leave Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so horrible, and a few months after that I realized I had to change everything because I had really bad liver disease," Rivers told music journalist Jon Wiederhorn, as reported by Variety. He underwent a liver transplant, describing it as "a perfect match," and focused on recovery. By 2018, Rivers had rejoined the band, bringing his signature groove back to the stage.
Fred Durst often spoke of the deep bond he shared with Rivers. In his tribute video, Durst described Rivers as "gifted, unbelievably sweet and a wonderful person." He continued, "I'm very fortunate to have him in my life, and, and I'm so grateful, so incredibly grateful to have shared part of this journey with Sam Rivers. A huge part of this journey, a huge part of my journey. I’m super, super grateful and I miss him terribly already." Durst also acknowledged the outpouring of support from fans, saying, "All the support and love out there I’ve seen online, it's overwhelming. He really did have an impact on the world, and his music and his gift is the one that’s gonna keep on giving. And I just love him so much."
Rivers’ musical influences were as eclectic as his playing style. He and Durst bonded over their mutual love of grunge, citing bands like Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots as favorites. Rivers’ ability to blend menacing grooves with funk-driven rhythms anchored Limp Bizkit’s sound, providing the foundation for Durst’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics and Borland’s explosive guitar work.
Limp Bizkit continued to perform and record well into the 2020s. In 2021, they released Still Sucks, an album that reminded fans and critics alike of the band’s enduring appeal. Their latest single, "Making Love to Morgan Wallen," topped several Billboard charts in September 2025, further cementing their legacy. Rivers’ last social media activity was a "Save The Date" video for the band’s upcoming performance at the Rock for People festival in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, scheduled for June 2026. The band’s most recent live appearance was at the Leeds Festival in the UK in August 2025, and they were set to begin a tour of Central and South America in late November.
Sam Rivers’ death marks the end of an era for Limp Bizkit and the nu-metal genre he helped shape. His influence can still be felt in every note, every groove, and every memory shared by fans and bandmates alike. As Durst poignantly put it, "I know that wherever Sam is right now, he’s smiling and feeling like, ‘Man, I did it, I did it.’ And man, did he do it."
