SAN FRANCISCO — The music world mourns as Limp Bizkit confirms the death of Sam Rivers, the band’s original bassist. He was 48 years old.

In a heartfelt message on social media, the band expressed their grief: “Today, we lost our brother, our bandmate, our heartbeat. Sam wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic.”

Rivers was instrumental in shaping the sound of the nu metal band, teaming up with Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, and DJ Lethal. The nu metal genre is known for its fusion of diverse musical styles, including hip hop, funk, industrial, and grunge.

The tribute continued, “From our very first note together, Sam illuminated our music with a rhythm that is irreplaceable. His talent seemed effortless, his presence unforgettable, and his heart was truly immense.”

The post, signed by the original members, called him a “once-in-a-lifetime kind of human, a true legend of legends” and said his “spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”

The band originated in the mid 90s and started in Jacksonville, Florida and are best known for their hits “Break Stuff,” “Rollin’” and “Take a Look Around.” 

They’re still active today, though some members have been replaced throughout the years. The band has nearly 21 million monthly listeners on Spotify. 

DJ Lethal commented on the post and requested the band’s fans respect Rivers’ family’s privacy.

“We are in shock,” he wrote. “We are heartbroken. Enjoy every millisecond of life. It’s not guaranteed.”

No cause of death details were revealed in the post.