Limp Bizkit's Sam Rivers Passes Away At 48

Music

Oct 20

Sam Rivers on stage during the soundcheck/preshow set-up of a concert, standing near the drumset. Rivers is wearing a Buck-ee’s t-shirt and holding up the classic rock hand — Image Source: *Instagram*

Founding member and bassist of Limp Bizkit, Samuel Robert ‘Sam’ Rivers, passed away on October 18, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. He was 48 years old. An official cause of death has not been released. However, the musician had a history of liver issues caused by drinking in excess.

Rivers was born on September 2, 1977, in Jacksonville, Florida. The musician was originally a tuba player in middle school, giving him plenty of experience with the bass clef. He first started playing the bass when he got into Bishop Kenny High School after a teacher recommended the switch from guitar. After meeting Fred Durst and attempting to form a band with the singer, which didn’t work out, the two tried again with drummer John Otto. Otto was a long-time friend of Rivers, thought to be his cousin for a time, but this was later disproven.

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Sam Rivers performing on a stage in Istanbul for a full crowd. The lighting has tinted the crowd pink, the in-between space green, and the rivers mostly yellow with some pink highlighting his back. — Image Source: *Instagram*

Limp Bizkit was officially formed in 1994. Rivers performed as the group’s bassist, Durst as the vocalist, Otto as the drummer, and was later joined by Wes Borland on lead guitar and DJ Lethal as the group’s turntablist. Their first album, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all, was released on July 1, 1997. In 2015, the bassist went on hiatus from the band, later revealing in 2020 that it was due to excessive drinking-induced liver disease. Rejoining the group in 2018, he remained with them until the end.

Limp Bizkit has been nominated for a Grammy Award three times, twice at the 42nd Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Hard Rock Performance, and once at the 43rd Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance. The group has been nominated for a variety of other awards and has won the 2001 MTV Europe Music Award for Best Group, Best Album, and the Web Award, and the 2002 American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Artist, among others.

Rivers is survived by family, friends, and his bandmates; any marital or parental relations he had were kept extremely private. His impact on the nu metal scene as a member of Limp Bizkit will be remembered by the industry for a long time to come. A public memorial service has not been announced at this time. Remember to respect the privacy of the family and friends of Rivers in this period of mourning.

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