Limp Bizkit Bassist Sam Rivers Omitted From 2026 GRAMMYs In Memoriam Segment

Fans of Limp Bizkit and late bassist Sam Rivers were left disappointed after it emerged that Rivers was not included in the in memoriam segment of the 2026 GRAMMY Awards broadcast on February 1st. Rivers, who passed away on October 18th, 2025, at the age of 48, joins a growing list of heavy music figures overlooked during the televised tribute. His cause of death was not publicly disclosed.

While Limp Bizkit were a defining force in late-90s and early-2000s pop culture, the multi-platinum nü-metal act never won a GRAMMY, though they earned several nominations. Significant Other received a nod for Best Rock Album, and “Nookie” and “Take A Look Around” (from Mission: Impossible 2) were both nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

Fans took to social media to express frustration over Rivers’ omission, which came alongside the earlier-recognized absence of Mastodon’s Brent Hinds, another heavy music figure and past GRAMMY winner. Though the televised segment highlighted numerous artists and included an all-star tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, frequent cuts and extended focus on performers meant that some late musicians received minimal or no screen time. Rivers is, however, listed on The Recording Academy’s official in memoriam database.

The GRAMMY Awards have a long history of underrepresenting metal and hard rock musicians in televised tributes, with notable omissions over the years including:

• Vinnie Paul (Pantera/HELLYEAH)
• Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
• Joey Jordison (VIMIC, ex-Slipknot)
• Wayne Static (Static-X)
• Nick Menza (Megadeth)
• Oli Herbert (All That Remains)
• Oderus Urungus (aka Dave Brockie, GWAR)

Sam Rivers’ absence has reignited ongoing discussions about the GRAMMYs’ recognition of heavier music genres and their legacies.

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