Description
Late, great Limp Bizit bassist Sam Rivers would have turned 49 years old today. RIP.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Rivers began his music career in the local scene, where he first met Fred Durst. The two initially played together in a band called Malachi Sage before going on to form Limp Bizkit in the mid-1990s.
Rivers played bass throughout the group's career and briefly took on additional guitar duties on their 2003 album, 'Results May Vary,' after guitarist Wes Borland temporarily split with the band. He appeared on all six of Bizkit's studio albums. Last September, the month before his death, the band released their first new song in four years, the instant hit "Making Love to Morgan Wallen."
Across his three stints with Bizkit (1994–2006, 2009–2015 and 2018–2025), Rivers dealt with ongoing health issues, including degenerative disc disease and liver disease, the latter of which eventually led to a 2017 liver transplant. On October 18th, 2025, he died from cardiac arrest.
Outside of his main band, Rivers contributed to songs by other prominent artists, including Marilyn Manson ("Redeemer") and David Draiman ("Forsaken," on the 'Queen of the Damned" soundtrack). He also continued to be active in the Jacksonville music community, producing several local acts including Burn Season, the Embraced, Indorphine and Sleepkillers.