LIMP BIZKIT’s Fred Durst Shares Emotional Video Reflecting on Late Bassist Sam Rivers: “What He’s Left Us Behind Is Priceless”

Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst has released a heartfelt eight-minute video reflecting on the death of the band’s longtime bassist Sam Rivers, who passed away on October 18th at age 48. The emotional message follows the band’s official statement announcing the tragic news on Saturday evening.

Rivers, a co-founding member of the multi-platinum nu-metal band, was known for his signature funk-driven bass lines and dynamic stage presence that helped define Limp Bizkit’s sound. In the video, Durst took fans back to where it all began, recalling how he met Rivers in Jacksonville, Florida, during the early days of forming the band.

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“Sam Rivers, the legend. Truly. Such a gifted, unbelievably sweet and wonderful person,” Durst began. “I put a couple of iterations of an idea of a band I was trying to make happen in Jacksonville, Florida… and I just couldn’t get it together right. So I decided to go out and find the right players to do this and bring it together. I went into a little bar called Pier 7, and there Sam was on stage with his band, killing it on the bass. I went, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy’s amazing.’”

Durst recounted how Rivers immediately agreed to join the project, setting the foundation for what would become Limp Bizkit. He also shared how Rivers introduced his cousin, John Otto, who would become the band’s drummer, completing the rhythm section that powered their rise to global fame. Durst said:

“Sam had this thing about him where anything I could spit out of my mouth — ‘try this,’ ‘do this,’ — Sam could do it and make it a thousand times better. He loved grunge — Mother Love Bone, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots — and could pull this beautiful sadness out of the bass that I’d never heard before.”

Durst grew emotional as he reflected on the loss, saying:

“It’s so tragic that he’s not here right now. I’ve gone through gallons of tears since yesterday, and I’m thinking, ‘My god, Sam’s a legend.’ He did it. He lived it.”

He continued:

“What he’s left us behind is priceless. He was such a special person. When he got on that stage, that Sam Rivers came out — and he was a beast. Just an amazing, amazing person. Sam was the first guy that really came in and helped make this dream come true.”

Visibly fighting back tears, Durst ended the video early, overwhelmed by emotion. He concluded:

“I’m so grateful, so incredibly grateful, to have shared part of this journey with Sam Rivers — a huge part of my journey. I miss him terribly already. The support and love out there is overwhelming. His music and his gift are going to keep on giving.”

Since the announcement of Rivers’ passing, members of Limp Bizkit have shared tributes and old memories on their social media accounts. Rivers, a vital force in the band’s sound and live energy, had faced health and addiction struggles in the past, which occasionally kept him from performing. As of now, the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Bandmate DJ Lethal urged fans to be respectful during this difficult time, writing, “Please respect the family’s privacy at this moment.”

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