Limp Bizkit bassist was 48

Sam Rivers, who was the bassist and backing vocalist for the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48, the band announced on social media.

The Instagram tribute – from members Fred Durst (lead vocals), John Otto (drums), Wes Borland (guitar) and DJ Lethal (turntables) – mourns “our brother, our bandmate, our heartbeat.”

“Sam Rivers was not only our bassist, he was pure magic,” the statement continued. “The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound. From the first note we played together, Sam brought a light and rhythm that could never be replaced. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”

The tribute read: “We shared so many moments – wild moments, quiet moments, beautiful moments – and each of them meant more because Sam was there. He was a once-in-a-lifetime human being. A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live on forever in every groove, every step, every memory.”

Concluding the statement, Limp Bizkit said, “We love you, Sam. We will always carry you with us. Rest in peace, brother. Your music never stops.”

The hard-rock/rap group was formed in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, and became popular in its hometown’s underground music scene around the turn of the millennium. As a founding member of the three-time Grammy-nominated group, Rivers got into music growing up alongside Otto and later met Durst while the two worked at the fast food chain Chick-fil-A. The permanent lineup of Limp Bizkit was formed two years later, in 1996, when Borland and DJ Lethal were brought into the group.

Best known for tracks such as “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)”, “Take A Look Around” and “My Way”, from their third studio album. Chocolate starfish and hot dog flavored waterthe group’s most recognized track, “Break Stuff,” has been streamed nearly a billion times on Spotify. Since its inception, the group has released six studio albums, the majority of which have been certified platinum. His last release was “Battlefield: The After-party” for the Battlefield 6 video game.

Rivers briefly left the group in 2015 due to liver disease caused by excessive alcohol consumption. He later received a liver transplant and rejoined the band three years later, performing with the band until his death.