Sam Rivers

Samuel Robert Rivers, aged 48, the bass-player and backing vocalist who helped drive the sonic engine of the nu-metal powerhouse Limp Bizkit, died on October 18, 2025. His death was announced by the band in a social-media message that described him as "our brother… our bandmate… our heartbeat."

Born on September 2, 1977, Rivers grew up immersed in music. He co-founded Limp Bizkit in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, alongside frontman Fred Durst. They were joined by drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, and DJ Lethal.

Rivers' basslines became a cornerstone of Limp Bizkit's sound, helping the group to popular success with albums such as "Significant Other" (1999) and "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water" (2000). They were among the early bands to make a major splash with rap-metal, helping bring the new sonic hybrid to a mass audience. His groove-oriented, funk-inflected approach grounded the band's heavy riffs and busy turntables, and his quiet, steady presence contrasted with the band's brash frontman and chaotic live energy.

In 2015, Rivers stepped away from the band amid serious health concerns; he later revealed he was being treated for liver disease related to heavy drinking and that he received a liver transplant, returning to the band in 2018. He continued performing with Limp Bizkit up to 2025, including their current touring cycle.

Rivers leaves behind a legacy as one of nu-metal's most reliable and musically grounded bass-players, a musician whose craft quietly but firmly underpinned some of the era's most memorable rock-rap hits.

In the words of the band: "Sam 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. … We'll carry you with us, always."

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: C Brandon/Redferns)