Rock Mourns a Legend: Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit Dies at 48

[{"selector":"#anim-9cad51b4-96ac-461e-8fcb-fcbbbaff62a8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.763469638044157%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Sam Rivers, iconic bassist and founding member of Limp Bizkit, has passed away.

[{"selector":"#anim-c2a818e3-c246-4f61-a019-63c4fd746338 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.47380396960767%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The band confirmed the heartbreaking news on Saturday.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7a038bf-484a-4638-bb02-c614b205774d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.81799150326756%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] “Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic,” the band shared.

[{"selector":"#anim-42239464-80a2-49d1-a267-c807c8eeddbf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.1351742919977%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound.

[{"selector":"#anim-e8b5adc7-475b-4ccb-b388-d7d347fb7d8c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.780691835527776%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1977, Rivers began with tuba in school before discovering bass

[{"selector":"#anim-916c2a8f-d101-4c69-9458-68d06a9656e8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.234812958109796%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Rivers formed Limp Bizkit in 1994 with Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, and DJ Lethal

[{"selector":"#anim-9a169d89-0db0-424a-b941-d5d302cf207b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.37558949142543%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Their 1999 album “Significant Other,” featuring “Nookie,” hit No. 1 on Billboard

[{"selector":"#anim-b1ce183c-82f6-4859-9f53-c42a1563716a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.83928558588331%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Limp Bizkit’s wild set at Woodstock ‘99 made headlines

[{"selector":"#anim-4428b00a-5ec6-4669-8105-e2d44824049b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.92056061368637%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Rivers produced for local Jacksonville bands before returning to Bizkit in 2009.

[{"selector":"#anim-67a0e76a-7a67-4ecc-beb9-cc187aa6963b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.97252735100155%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] In 2015, Rivers left the band due to alcohol-related liver disease

[{"selector":"#anim-dd759e40-435c-41cc-9353-252ce4809b10 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.157966912566348%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] After quitting drinking, he received a successful liver transplant and began his recovery.