Sam Rivers, Founding Bassist of Limp Bizkit, Has Died at 48
Published Oct. 18, 2025
Sam Rivers, the bassist who co-founded Limp Bizkit and anchored the band’s sound for decades, has passed away. He was 48.
The group — Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and DJ Lethal — shared the news on Saturday night, Oct. 18, in an Instagram tribute titled “In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers.” View the post on Instagram.
The band’s message described Rivers as the emotional and rhythmic core of their music, writing that he brought an irreplaceable pulse and steady calm to every performance. They recalled countless moments—both raucous and quiet—and said his influence will endure in their songs and memories.
DJ Lethal added his own words on Instagram, urging respect for the family’s privacy and encouraging fans to celebrate Rivers by listening to his work. He reflected on Rivers’ lasting impact through music, charity and friendship, and asked fans to “give Sam his flowers.”
No cause of death has been disclosed.
Rivers had been diagnosed with liver disease in 2011 and underwent a liver transplant in 2017, after which he briefly stepped away from the band before rejoining by 2018. More on his transplant is available via this report: Loudwire.
Legacy and career highlights
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1977, Rivers helped form Limp Bizkit in 1994 alongside vocalist Fred Durst and drummer John Otto; Wes Borland and DJ Lethal joined in 1996. The band rose to prominence with their 1997 debut, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all, and broke into mainstream success with 1999’s Significant Other, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned multiple Grammy nominations. They followed that with another chart-topping LP, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, in 2000.
Across their career Limp Bizkit released six studio albums; their most recent full-length is 2021’s Still Sucks.
Recently the band returned to the top of a Billboard chart: their single “Making Love to Morgan Wallen” debuted at No. 1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, Alternative Digital Song Sales and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales for the week of Sept. 27, 2025.
Sam Rivers’ basslines and presence shaped a generation of performances and recordings. He will be remembered for the rhythm, warmth and humanity he brought to every stage.
