Sam Rivers, the longtime bass player for the American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, has died, according to statements posted by his bandmates on social media.
The group did not reveal the cause or location of Rivers’ death but remembered him as “pure magic” and “the soul in the sound.”
“From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and rhythm that could never be replaced,” the band wrote on Instagram. “His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
Frontman Fred Durst shared a heartfelt video tribute on Sunday, recalling how the two met at a club in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, before achieving worldwide fame together.
“I’ve shed gallons and gallons of tears since yesterday,” Durst said. “He really did have an impact on the world. His music and his gift will keep on giving. I just love him so much.”
Rivers, 48, had previously spoken about battling liver disease caused by heavy drinking. He left the band in 2015 to undergo a liver transplant but rejoined Limp Bizkit three years later.
Durst said Rivers’ musical depth came from their shared love of grunge, citing Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots as major influences.
“He had this ability to pull a beautiful sadness out of the bass that I’d never heard before,” Durst said. “He was so talented I can’t explain it.”
The band is still scheduled to begin its Central and South American tour in Mexico City later this November.
