In a heartfelt social media post on Saturday, the band expressed their sorrow: “Today we lost our brother, our bandmate, our heartbeat. Sam was far more than just our bass player — he was pure magic.”

Rivers was a founding member of the nu metal band, which also includes Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, and DJ Lethal. Nu metal is a unique genre that blends elements of hip hop, funk, industrial, and grunge with traditional metal.

The tribute continued, “From the very first note we played together, Sam brought a light and rhythm that was irreplaceable. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, and his heart enormous.”

Signed by the original band members, the message honored Rivers as a “once-in-a-lifetime kind of human” and emphasized that his “spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”

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.