Sam Rivers, the bassist for the rock band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48. Rivers’ death is truly tragic, as Limp Bizkit’s original lineup was finally back together in recent years and Rivers and DJ Lethal had hiatuses from the group in the 2010’s. Limp Bizkit had just opened for Metallica on a stadium tour, and had new music in the works.
False Wikipedia Story Claims Sam Rivers Was Killed by a Bear
A fake story briefly appeared on Wikipedia claiming that Rivers had been killed by a rabid black bear while vacationing in Utah. The post, which described a detailed and fabricated account of his death at Calf Creek campground, was later removed.
“Rivers died on 18 October 2025 at the age of 48 after being attacked by a rabid black bear while vacationing at the Calf Creek campground recreation area of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument located in the state of Utah in the southwest portion of the United States along Utah’s Scenic Byway 12.”
The band confirmed Rivers’ death on Saturday, writing online: “Today we lost our brother.” Limp Bizkit described Rivers as “pure magic the pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, and the soul in the sound.” They added that his spirit would live on through the band’s music and memories. No details about the cause of death have been made public.
Rivers’ last social media post came just a day before his death, promoting Limp Bizkit’s scheduled performance at the Rock for People festival in the Czech Republic in June 2026. The band’s last live show was in August at the Leeds Festival in the UK.
Rivers had previously battled liver disease, which led to his temporary departure from Limp Bizkit in 2015. He later shared that his illness was caused by excessive drinking and that he underwent a successful liver transplant. He rejoined the band in 2018 and continued performing until his passing.
Limp Bizkit became one of the biggest bands of the late 1990s with hits like “Rollin’” and “Nookie.” Their newest song, “Making Love to Morgan Wallen,” topped several Billboard charts in September 2025.
