Sam Rivers, the bassist with US nu-metal group Limp Bizkit, has died aged 48, his bandmates have said.
In a post on Instagram, the group paid tribute to their “brother” and a “once-in-a-lifetime kind of human”, describing his presence as “pure magic”.
Bandmates Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and DJ Lethal all shared the tribute, which said: “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.
“From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced.”
Their statement ended by saying: “Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends.”
In a separate message, DJ Lethal said they were in shock, and added: “Rest in power my brother! You will live on through your music and the lives you helped save with your music, charity work and friendships.”
He urged his followers to “enjoy every millisecond of life”, adding: “It’s not guaranteed.”
Fred Durst, left, on stage with Rivers in 2023. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP
The band did not say how the musician died.
Formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994, Limp Bizkit released their debut album in 1997.
Limp Bizkit won MTV’s best rock video award for Significant Other in 2000. Pic: AP
Playing a fusion of rock and hip-hop dubbed nu-metal, their first big hit was 2000’s Take A Look Around – the theme from Mission Impossible 2 – followed by Rollin’, the song that took them to the top of the charts in the UK.
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The band sold an estimated 45 million albums, according to a royalties lawsuit filed in 2024.
They received three Grammy nominations in 2000 and 2001, and won three MTV Europe Music Awards.
