Sam Rivers, the bass player in the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, died on Saturday, according to social media posts by his bandmates.
The band did not disclose where Rivers died or the circumstances, but praised him as “pure magic” and “the soul in the sound.”
“From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced,” they wrote in a group Instagram post. “His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
Fred Durst, the band’s frontman and lead vocalist, shared a heartfelt video recounting their journey together, from their initial meeting at a club in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, to their music stardom and performances around the world. Reflecting on their bond, Durst said he has shed “gallons and gallons of tears since yesterday.”
“He really did have an impact on the world, and his music and his gift are the ones that are going to keep on giving,” Durst said. “I just love him so much.”
Rivers had previously spoken about his struggles with heavy drinking, which led to liver disease. After leaving the band in 2015, he underwent a liver transplant before reuniting with Limp Bizkit three years later.
The band, rooted in Jacksonville, Florida, achieved fame in the late 1990s with a sound that blended elements of alternative rock, heavy metal, and rap. Their quirky humor is reflected in their mega-selling album 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water'. Now, Limp Bizkit is set for a tour of Central and South America, kicking off in Mexico City later this month.
Durst reminisced about their shared love of grunge music, citing influential bands like Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots. “He had this kind of ability to pull this beautiful sadness out of the bass that I’d never heard,” added Durst, emphasizing Rivers' unparalleled talent.
