Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst has paid a heartfelt tribute to late bassist, Sam Rivers.

On Saturday, the nu metal band released a joint statement in which they announced Rivers had passed away at the age of 48. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Durst posted an eight-minute-long video in which he reflected on his long friendship with the musician.

"Sam Rivers, the legend, truly. Such a gifted, unbelievably sweet and wonderful person," he began.

Durst went on to recall how he discovered Rivers when he saw him "killing it on the bass" while playing with another band in Jacksonville, Florida in the 1990s.

"I saw Sam play, and I was blown away," the 55-year-old continued. "He was playing a five-string bass too, I'd never really seen someone using a five-string bass. He was so smooth and good and he stood out. I could hear nothing else but Sam, everything disappeared besides his gift."

Elsewhere in the emotional video, Durst revealed that he has cried "gallons of tears" over Rivers's loss.

"It's so tragic that he's not here right now, and I've gone through gallons and gallons of tears since yesterday. And I'm thinking, 'Gosh, Sam's a legend, you know? He did it, he lived it,'" he mused. "We rocked stadiums together, we've been around the world together, shared so many moments together, and I know that wherever Sam is right now, he's smiling and feeling like, 'Man, I did it.' And man, did he do it."

To conclude the message, the Rollin' hitmaker emphasised just how "incredibly grateful" he is to have shared his journey with the group co-founder.

"I'm super, super grateful and I miss him terribly already. All the support and love I've seen out there online is overwhelming, he really did have an impact on the world. His music and his gift is the one that's going to keep on giving. I just love him so much," the rocker added.