The world of metal music is mourning the loss of Sam Rivers, the bassist for the renowned band Limp Bizkit, who passed away at the age of 48. The news was shared by the band through their social media channels, though specific details regarding the location and cause of his death remain undisclosed.

In their heartfelt tribute, Limp Bizkit described Rivers as “pure magic” and “the soul in the sound,” emphasizing the irreplaceable role he played within the band. “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,” the band expressed in a poignant Instagram post. They reminisced over the myriad of moments shared with him, from the wild and exhilarating to the quiet and beautiful, each enriched by his presence.

The band further honored his legacy by calling him “a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends. And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”

Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit’s frontman and lead vocalist, shared a personal reflection on their journey together in a video posted on Sunday morning. He recounted their first meeting at a club in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, a meeting that would lead to international fame and countless performances. Durst spoke of the profound impact Rivers had on the world through his music, expressing his deep sense of loss. “He really did have an impact on the world, and his music and his gift is the one that’s going to keep on giving,” Durst said, adding, “I just love him so much.” He noted the emotional toll Rivers’ passing has taken, admitting to shedding “gallons and gallons of tears since yesterday.”

Fred Durst, the band’s frontman and lead vocalist, posted a video Sunday morning that recounted how they met at a club in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and went on to musical stardom and performances around the globe. Durst said he has shed “gallons and gallons of tears since yesterday.”

“He really did have an impact on the world and his music and his gift is the one that’s going to keep on giving,” Durst said. “I just love him so much.”

Rivers had spoken of heavy drinking that had caused liver disease. He left the band in 2015 and received a liver transplant before reuniting with Limp Bizkit three years later.

Limp Bizkit has scheduled a tour of Central and South America to begin in Mexico City in late November.

Durst said he and Rivers shared a love of grunge music, naming the bands Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots.

“He had this kind of ability to pull this beautiful sadness out of the bass that I’d never heard,” Durst said, calling Rivers “so talented I can’t explain.”

Limp Bizkit, with roots in Jacksonville, Florida, emerged in the late 1990s with a sound that melds alternative rock, heavy metal and rap.

Their off-the-wall sense of humor is reflected in the titles of their mega-selling 2000 album, “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water,” and a single released last month, “Making Love to Morgan Wallen.”