Limp Bizkit’s Sam Rivers suffered from liver disease; understand

The musician Sam Riversknown as the bassist of the nu metal band Limp Bizkitdied at the age of 47 this Saturday, 18, in the United States. The news was confirmed by his former bandmate, drummer John Ottowho paid tribute on social media. The cause of death was not revealed; nonetheless, rivers suffered from liver disease due to excessive alcohol consumption.

Rivers has been in charge of the band’s bass since the founding of Limp Bizkit in 1994 and was responsible for some of the group’s most striking lines, such as the classics “My Generation”, “Rollin’” and “Break Stuff”. His only break was between 2015 and 2018, precisely due to health complications. At the time, the band claimed that the reason for their departure was back problems, but in 2020, the bassist himself revealed the truth in an interview published in the book Raising Hell (Backstage Tales From the Lives of Metal Legends) (2020).

“I had liver disease because of excessive alcohol consumption. I had to quit Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt terrible, and a few months later I realized I needed to change everything because I had very serious liver disease. I stopped drinking and did everything the doctors told me. I had treatment for alcoholism and a liver transplant, which was perfect,” said Sam.

According to him, the diagnosis came in 2011. “I stopped drinking and struggled with liver disease for a while. I stayed clean for about nine or ten months and went on tour. I was super sober, but my home life wasn’t so good at the time. As soon as I finished the tour, I started drinking again and then even more. I went back to being a horrible drunk. It got so bad that I had to go to the hospital, and the doctor said: ‘If you don’t stop, you will die. And now, it looks like you need a new liver.’ I battled liver disease for a few years and it won. I needed a liver transplant in 2017.”

The note published by Limp Bizkit, signed by Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and DJ Lethalpaid an emotional tribute:

“Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic. The pulse behind every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound. We shared so many moments — wild, peaceful, beautiful — and each one of them meant more because Sam was there. He was a unique human being. A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory. We love you, Sam.” We will carry you with us, forever. Rest in peace, brother. Your music never ends.”

Rivers would come to Brazil with the Limp Bizkit for a unique show at Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, on December 20th. The event remains confirmed and will also feature presentations by Yungblud, 311, Ecca Vandal, Riff Raff and Slay Squad.

Life and career of Sam Rivers

In summary, Samuel Robert Riversbetter known in the music world as Sam Riverswas born on September 2, 1977, in Jacksonville, Florida, in the United States.

His relationship with art began early in his childhood: he learned to play the tuba, but became interested in the guitar as a teenager — until, at the suggestion of a teacher, he adopted the bass, an instrument that would define his career, in which he also joined the group Sleepkillers and acted as a producer, collaborating on albums by bands such as Burn Season and The Embraced.

During his youth, Rivers met Fred Durstlead singer and leader of Limp Bizkit, while both worked at a fast food chain in a Jacksonville mall. The partnership resulted in the creation of the band Malachi Sage, the embryo of what would later become the iconic nu metal band, with the arrival of the drummer John Otto. Already DJ Lethal and the guitarist Wes Borland they would complete the training at another time.

Lastly, as bassist, Sam was featured on all six of Limp Bizkit’s studio albums. In Results May Vary (2003), recorded guitar parts during the period in which Borland was outside the group’s formation. In 2015, his temporary departure from the band was announced due to an alleged back problem. It was later revealed that rivers He faced liver disease caused by excessive alcohol consumption — a condition that led him to undergo a liver transplant.

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