Limp Bizkit founder Sam Rivers dies at 48, cause of death pending

Sam Rivers, the founding bassist of the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, died on Saturday, Oct. 18, his bandmates announced, marking the loss of a musician who helped define the group's sound. The band posted a tribute on social media calling Rivers "our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat," and described him as "pure magic," without disclosing a cause of death.

Local authorities in St. Johns County, Florida said emergency responders were called to Rivers's home on Oct. 18 after a report of a nonresponsive person in cardiac arrest. Deputies also recorded what is classified as an attended death, a designation used when a patient has been receiving medical care for a serious or life threatening condition prior to dying. Officials have not released a formal cause of death.

Bandmates Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto and DJ Lethal signed the joint message mourning Rivers and celebrating his role in the group's music. In a separate social post, DJ Lethal asked fans to respect Rivers's family's privacy and encouraged listeners to honor his life by playing his basslines and remembering his charitable work.

Rivers, 48, co-founded Limp Bizkit in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1994 with Durst and...