On Saturday (10.18,) Limp Bizkit took to social media with the news that their bassist Sam Rivers passed away. He was 48 years old.
Describing their fallen band mate as “pure magic” and “the pulse beneath every song,” the nu-rock act’s Instagram post read:
“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. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.” “Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat.” “We shared so many moments – wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones – and every one of them meant more because Sam was there.” “He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.” “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends,” along with a photo of Rivers performing on stage.
Below the post urging fans to respect the privacy of Sam’s family, the band’s DJ Lethal added:
“Give Sam his flowers and play Sam Rivers baselines all day!” “We are in shock. 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. We are heartbroken. Enjoy every millisecond of life. It’s not guaranteed.”
After he and Fred Durst became friends whilst working at a shopping mall in Jacksonville, Rivers was a founding member of Limp Bizkit after the duo played together in the band Malachi Sage before going on to form the their famous group that included drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland and turntablist DJ Lethal.
Honored with the Gibson award for Best Bassist in 2000, Rivers left Limp Bizkit for a number of years in 2015 due to liver disease caused by “excessive drinking”. At the time, the guitarist told author Jon Wiederhorn for the book Raising Hell “I quit drinking and did everything the doctors told me.” “I got treatment for the alcohol and got a liver transplant, which was a perfect match.”
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Achim Raschka (talk)