Sam Rivers Dead: Limp Bizkit Founding Member Was 48

Sam Rivers, a founding member of the nu-metal band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48. His bandmates announced his passing with an emotional statement, describing him as 'pure magic' and 'the pulse beneath every song.' Rivers co-founded Limp Bizkit in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1994 with Fred Durst and John Otto. The classic lineup was completed when Wes Borland and DJ Lethal joined in 1996.

In 2015, Rivers took a break from the band because of serious health problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption. He developed liver disease and had to undergo a liver transplant after he stopped drinking. After recovering his health, Rivers returned to Limp Bizkit in 2018 and stayed with the group until his death.

The band called him 'a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human' and emphasized his significant impact on their music and lives.