St. Johns County, FL — Sam Rivers, the longtime bassist for the chart-topping nu-metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at age 48 after being found unresponsive in his Florida home, authorities confirmed.
According to an incident report obtained by TMZ, emergency responders were called to Rivers’ residence earlier this week after a woman identified as Keely discovered him face-down in the bathroom. She immediately called 911 and attempted CPR until first responders arrived.
Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office noted that Rivers appeared to have suffered a fall, with a visible cut above his eye and evidence of a possible pulmonary embolism, based on the condition of his face and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The official cause of death is pending further medical examination.
Keely reportedly told investigators that Rivers underwent a liver transplant in 2018 following complications from alcohol-related liver disease. Since then, he had been on multiple medications related to his recovery and overall health.
Rivers was a founding member of Limp Bizkit, the Florida-based band that helped define the nu-metal movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits like “Nookie,” “Break Stuff,” and “Rollin’.” Alongside frontman Fred Durst and guitarist Wes Borland, Rivers’ distinctive bass grooves were central to the band’s sound, which blended heavy guitar riffs with hip-hop influences.
In a 2015 interview, Rivers opened up about his health struggles and decision to temporarily step back from performing to focus on recovery. Fans and fellow musicians have since flooded social media with condolences, remembering him not only as a talented bassist but also as a humble, genuine presence in the music scene.
“Sam was the heartbeat of Limp Bizkit,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “His bass lines shaped a generation of rock music.”
Rivers’ contributions to Limp Bizkit helped the band sell over 40 million albums worldwide, influencing countless acts in the genre that followed.
As the investigation continues, tributes pour in for a musician whose career bridged the intensity of rock with the vulnerability of personal struggle — a duality that resonated deeply with fans.
Rivers is survived by his family and bandmates, who have yet to release a formal statement.
Rest in peace, Sam Rivers — your music lives on.
