Sam Rivers, the founding bassist of nu-metal pioneers Limp Bizkit, died on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at his home in St. Johns County, Florida. He was 48 years old. Emergency responders received a call that day for a nonresponsive person in cardiac arrest, according to local fire rescue officials.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office classified the death as an “attended death,” a designation used when someone has been under medical care for a serious or life-threatening illness expected to lead to death within a relatively short timeframe. No official cause of death has been released, though Rivers had previously battled significant health challenges.
Rivers temporarily departed from Limp Bizkit in 2015 after developing liver disease caused by excessive drinking. He underwent a liver transplant and returned to the band in 2018, continuing to perform with them through their recent touring schedule.
The band announced Rivers’ passing Saturday evening through a heartfelt Instagram tribute. “Sam Rivers 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,” the post read. The message was signed by surviving members Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, and DJ Lethal.
Rivers joined Limp Bizkit as a founding member in Jacksonville, Florida, bringing a distinctive bass sound that helped define the band’s aggressive fusion of rock and hip-hop. He was only 19 years old when the group released their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all, in 1997. The record established Limp Bizkit as leaders of the emerging nu-metal movement that dominated late-1990s rock radio.
The bassist played a crucial role during the band’s peak commercial success with follow-up albums Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. His thunderous bass lines anchored hits including “Nookie,” “Break Stuff,” “Re-Arranged,” and “My Way,” tracks that topped rock charts and became anthems for a generation of fans. In addition to his instrumental work, Rivers provided backup vocals throughout the band’s catalog.
Acclaimed bassist Thundercat, born Stephen Bruner, spoke about Rivers’ influence on his own career development. The jazz-fusion artist, known for collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus, described hearing Rivers’ work for the first time as a transformative experience. He recalled discovering the bass line on “Nookie” while in high school, noting that it reminded him of Herbie Hancock’s “Sly.”
Thundercat emphasized that Rivers and Limp Bizkit represented something groundbreaking for young musicians growing up in Los Angeles. He indicated that the band provided crucial examples of live musicianship intersecting with pop culture during an era dominated by rock music. According to Thundercat, Rivers gave aspiring players concrete examples of how to approach their instruments while the band fearlessly traversed genre boundaries.
The influential bassist stated that Limp Bizkit’s impact was self-evident, requiring no proof beyond observing people’s reactions to their music. He described Rivers as one of the mechanics of his childhood, noting that the bassist’s work spanned from “Re-Arranged” to “My Generation.” Thundercat acknowledged that Rivers influenced his own music without question, representing a generation of artists who demonstrated that people wanted to hear something genuinely different and new.
Despite the loss, Limp Bizkit appears committed to honoring Rivers by continuing with scheduled tour dates. A promoter for the band’s November 29 show at the Explanada del Estadio Banorte in Mexico City released a statement expressing deep regret over Rivers’ passing while confirming the performance would proceed as planned.
The promoter indicated that the band decided to continue with its performance as part of the Gringo Papi Tour 2025, noting that every riff and crowd reaction that night would resonate in honor of Rivers’ legacy to nu-metal. The tour is scheduled to continue through South America, with additional stops in Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil through December.
DJ Lethal commented on the band’s Instagram post, requesting that people respect the family’s privacy while encouraging fans to celebrate Rivers’ life by playing his bass lines. He described Rivers as someone whose spirit would live forever through his music and through the lives he helped save with his musical contributions, charity work, and friendships.
The band’s tribute concluded by emphasizing Rivers’ irreplaceable presence from their first note together. They described him as a once-in-a-lifetime human and true legend whose spirit would continue in every groove, stage, and memory. Members pledged to carry Rivers with them always, stating that his music would never end.
Sources:
https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/21/limp-bizkit-bassist-sam-rivers-911-heart-attack/
https://metalinjection.net/news/details-emerge-around-limp-bizkit-bassist-sam-rivers-death
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/thundercat-limp-bizkit-sam-rivers-interview-1235450977/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-10-18/sam-rivers-limp-bizkit-dead
