Sam Rivers shared his love for Limp Bizkit and their fans in a poignant final Instagram post, just hours before his tragic death aged 48.
The metal group announced on Saturday that the bassist has passed away earlier in the day, with an emotional tribute. A cause of death is yet to be revealed.
Rivers had been one of the original founding members of Limp Bizkit – which was formed back in 1994.
And his final ever post on social media saw him reflect on the band’s past and future, as he marked one of their milestone anniversaries and encouraged fans to come see them play in June next year.
He took to his Instagram on Friday to share a shot of the group’s third album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, revealing it had been exactly 25 years since the platinum certified record had been released.
While Rivers added a second photo showing the line-up for Rock For People festival, set to take place between June 10 to 14 at Park 360 in Czechia.
Sam Rivers shared his love for Limp Bizkit and their fans in a poignant final Instagram post, just hours before his tragic death aged 48 (seen in 2023)
The metal group announced on Saturday that the bassist has passed away earlier in the day, with an emotional tribute. A cause of death is yet to be revealed (L-R Wes Borland, DJ Lethal (born Leor Dimant), Fred Durst, John Otto, and Sam in 1997)
Alongside the likes of Gorillaz, Iron Maiden and Bring Me The Horizon, Limp Bizkit are listed as the headliners on Thursday, June 11, with the poster telling fans to save the date.
Rivers shared the two shots, set to Good Times Roll by The Cars, and poignantly wrote in the accompanying caption: ‘Nothing but love #limpbizkit #limpbizkitstyle #limpbizkitfamily’.
Following the news of his death, fans flooded the post with comments expressing their shock and devastation, while paying tribute to the late musician.
They wrote: ‘Sam…why. You made grown man from other side of the globe cry. My thoughts are with family and friends ❤️’.
‘Too damn young, man. Rest easy’; ‘Chocolate Starfish was the first album I ever owned. Thanks for the music and RIP x’.
‘No f***ing way man RIP’; ‘Loved your bass line on Boiler…bye Sam. Thanks for giving me the best time of my childhood playing LB cd’s ❤️’.
‘Sam, rest in peace. You are, for me, the best bass player I’ve ever seen in my life. You’re an inspiration not only to me but to so many fans. It still hasn’t sunk in that you’re gone.’
‘Rest in Peace Legend’; ‘You were a great source of inspiration for me. One of my favourite bass players of the entire world. R. I. P. Bro’; ‘We will love you always Sam Rivers.’
He took to his Instagram on Friday to share a shot of the group’s third album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, revealing it had been exactly 25 years since the platinum certified record had been released
While Rivers added a second photo showing the line-up for Rock For People festival, set to take place between June 10 to 14 at Park 360 in Czechia
Rivers shared the two shots, set to Good Times Roll by The Cars, and poignantly wrote in the accompanying caption: ‘Nothing but love #limpbizkit #limpbizkitstyle #limpbizkitfamily’
In an emotional statement announcing Rivers’ death, his Limp Bizkit bandmates Fred Durst, John Otto, Wes Borland and DJ Lethal, wrote: ‘In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers. Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat.
‘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.’
The group continued: ‘We shared so many moments — wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones — and every one of them meant more because Sam was there.’
They called Rivers ‘a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human’ as well as ‘a true legend of legends.’
They concluded their statement: ‘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. — Fred, Wes, John & DJ Lethal ❤️.’
DJ Lethal jumped to the comment section to further express how the band is in ‘shock’ over the death of Rivers.
Following the news of his death, fans flooded the post with comments expressing their shock and devastation, while paying tribute to the late musician
In an emotional statement announcing Rivers’ death, his Limp Bizkit bandmates Fred Durst, John Otto, Wes Borland and DJ Lethal, wrote: ‘In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers. Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat’
‘We love you Sam rivers. Please respect the family’s privacy at this moment. give Sam his flowers and play Sam rivers basslines all day ! We are in shock.’
He 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. We are heartbroken enjoy every millisecond of life. It’s not guaranteed.’
Rivers first met the lead vocalist of the band Durst in the 90s while working at Chick-fil-A, going on to form Limp Bizkit in 1994 alongside drummer Otto.
Two years later, guitarist Borland and turntablist DJ Lethal also joined the group and their debut album – Three Dollar Bill, Y’all – was released in 1997 and included singles such as Counterfeit.
The band found further success and recognition with second album Significant Other (1999) followed by Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000).
Some of the biggest tracks that the group released over the years include Break Stuff, My Way and Behind Blue Eyes.
The band went on hiatus in 2006, but reunited just three years later in 2009.
Limp Bizkit has received three Grammy nominations such as Best Rock Album in 2000 for Significant Other and won a series of other awards, including a Billboard Music Award for Top Modern Rock Artist.
Rivers first met the lead vocalist of the band Durst in the 90s while working at Chick-fil-A, going on to form Limp Bizkit in 1994 alongside drummer Otto, with guitarist Borland and turntablist DJ Lethal also joining two years later (seen in 2000)
Rivers departed from the band in 2015, before rejoining in 2018, which he later revealed was due to his battle with liver disease (seen in 2009)
Rivers departed from the band in 2015, before rejoining in 2018, which he later revealed was due to his battle with liver disease.
The late musician made the revelation in a book from rock writer Jon Wiederhorn titled Raising Hell (Backstage Tales From The Lives Of Metal Legends) in 2020, per Loudwire.
He shared: ‘I got liver disease from excessive drinking. I had to leave Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so horrible, and a few months after that I realized I had to change everything because I had really bad liver disease.’
Rivers also stated that he continued to focus on his health and eventually underwent a liver transplant.
‘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.’
He expressed that he received the diagnosis back in 2011 and ‘got clean for about nine or ten months and went on tour.’
However due to a home life that was far from ‘great,’ he fell back into drinking again and would later get a warning from medical professionals.
‘It got so bad I had to go to UCLA Hospital and the doctor said, “If you don’t stop, you’re going to die. And right now, you’re looking like you need a new liver.”‘
Rivers added: ‘I fought liver disease for a couple years and it won. I had to get a liver transplant in 2017.’
