Limp Bizkit Pays Tribute to Late Bassist Sam Rivers at Their First Concert After His Passing
Limp Bizkit is paying tribute to their late co-founder and bassist, Sam Rivers, during their first concert since his passing in mid-October. The band, led by Fred Durst, honored the musician with an emotional video at Mexico City’s Estadio Fray Nano on Saturday, November 29.
The tribute video displayed an image of Rivers alongside the messages, “Sam Rivers, our brother forever” and “Sam Rivers, we love you forever.” As the video concluded, the band members embraced one another while the crowd chanted Rivers’ name in remembrance.
Earlier that day, drummer John Otto shared his sentiments about the loss of his close friend and bandmate in an emotional Instagram post. “Today is going to be tough,” Otto wrote. “A first I never wanted to experience. Especially not now. You’ve been there for so many major firsts in my life. Some of my earliest memories were made with you. We grew up together. Laughed together. Realized our dreams together. And traveled the world together.”
He continued, “You’ve always been there. The godfather to my girls, my best friend – my brother. There will never be another you. We’re going to honor the life you lived and the love you spread with every show we play. You’ll always be with us.”
Otto expressed gratitude to the band’s supporters, saying, “Thank you to our fans for all the messages of support and tributes to Sam. It means the world to us. This one’s for you Sammy.”
At the Mexico City show, bassist Richie Buxton, also known as Kid Not, filled in for Rivers. Buxton is also part of D.C.-based artist Ecca Vandal, who is supporting Limp Bizkit on their upcoming South American tour.
Rivers passed away on October 18 at the age of 48. As of now, the official cause of death has not been made public. The musician had struggled with liver disease since 2011, following years of heavy drinking, and underwent a liver transplant in 2017 after a temporary hiatus from the band in 2015. He rejoined Limp Bizkit in 2018.
In the wake of Rivers’ death, Durst expressed his grief in an emotional tribute, describing it as “so tragic he’s not here now” and mentioning he had shed “gallons and gallons of tears since yesterday.” He added, “My God, Sam’s a legend. He did it. He lived it.”
The remaining band members, including guitarist Wes Borland and DJ Lethal, issued a joint statement honoring their cherished bandmate. “Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic,” they wrote. “The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound. From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
