Limp Bizkit founding member Sam Rivers has died, in accordance with an announcement from the band. He was 48.
Rivers’ bandmates Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and DJ Deadly launched a joint assertion on Saturday, October 18, saying the lack of their “brother.” They didn’t specify a reason for demise.
“Immediately we misplaced our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat,” Limp Bizkit’s assertion learn. “Sam Rivers wasn’t simply our bass participant — he was pure magic. The heartbeat beneath each track, the calm within the chaos, the soul within the sound.”
They continued, “From the primary observe we ever performed collectively, Sam introduced a lightweight and a rhythm that might by no means get replaced. His expertise was easy, his presence unforgettable, his coronary heart monumental.”
Rivers based Limp Bizkit with vocalist Durst, 55, and drummer Otto, 48, in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1994 and he grew to become a mainstay on all of their studio albums. (The trio added guitarist Borland and turntablist DJ Deadly to finish the basic lineup in 1996.) Nevertheless, the bassist introduced he was taking an prolonged hiatus from the group in 2015 to take care of well being points.
Rivers subsequently revealed in Jon Wiederhorn’s e-book Elevating Hell (Backstage Tales From the Lives of Steel Legends) that the long-term results of ingesting alcohol brought on his departure from Limp Bizkit.
“I obtained liver illness from extreme ingesting … I needed to go away Limp Bizkit in 2015 as a result of I felt so horrible, and some months after that I noticed I needed to change all the things as a result of I had actually unhealthy liver illness,” Rivers acknowledged. “I give up ingesting and did all the things the docs advised me. I obtained remedy for the alcohol and obtained a liver transplant, which was an ideal match.”
Rivers ultimately rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018 and remained with the group till his demise. Of their memorial assertion, Durst and his fellow bandmates regarded again on Rivers’s legacy.
Fred Durst and Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit in November 2024. Medios y Media/Getty Pictures
“We shared so many moments — wild ones, quiet ones, stunning ones — and each one in every of them meant extra as a result of Sam was there,” they wrote through Instagram. “He was a once-in-a-lifetime form of human. A real legend of legends. And his spirit will reside ceaselessly in each groove, each stage, each reminiscence.”
The band concluded, “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, at all times. Relaxation simple, brother. Your music by no means ends.”
Limp Bizkit’s turntablist DJ Deadly, 52, subsequently inspired followers to offer the band and Rivers’ household privateness as they grieve.
“We love you Sam rivers,” he responded through Instagram. “Please respect the household’s privateness at this second. 🕊️ give Sam his flowers and play Sam rivers basslines all day ! We’re in shock. Relaxation in energy my brother ! You’ll reside on by way of your music and the lives you helped save together with your music , charity work and friendships. We’re heartbroken 💔 get pleasure from each millisecond of life. It’s not assured.”
Meant to be. Limp Bizket frontman Fred Durst wrote The Fanatic with John Travolta in thoughts because the lead character, the Gotti star solely tells Us Weekly within the newest challenge. “About 15 years in the past, Fred had wished to fulfill with me to discover motion pictures and the potential of movie. It took 15 years however […]
Borland provided his personal tribute with throwback footage of Rivers shot throughout the Vans’ Warped Tour again within the day, together with a “damaged coronary heart emoji” through his Instagram.
Limp Bizkit are presently scheduled to kick off their Gringo Papi Tour of Latin America at Mexico Metropolis’s Explanada del Estadio Banorte on November 29. The seven-date tour can be anticipated to characteristic Yungblud, 311, Ecca Vandal, Riff Raff and Slay Squad.
