The Recording Academy is facing renewed criticism from the rock and metal community following Sunday night’s 2026 Grammy Awards broadcast. In addition to the previously reported exclusion of Mastodon‘s Brent Hinds, it appears that late Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers was also omitted from the televised “In Memoriam” segment.
Rivers, a founding member of the multi-platinum Jacksonville outfit, passed away on October 18, 2025, at the age of 48. While his death is officially recorded in the Recording Academy‘s online memoriam database, eagle-eyed viewers and fans have taken to social media to note that his name and image did not appear to be featured during the live broadcast’s tribute montage.
Although Limp Bizkit never secured a golden gramophone, the band was a significant force at the ceremony during their commercial peak. The group earned three nominations around the turn of the millennium: in 2000, their blockbuster album Significant Other was nominated for “Best Rock Album,” while the anthem “Nookie” received a nod for “Best Hard Rock Performance.” The following year, their “Mission: Impossible 2” theme, “Take A Look Around,” was also nominated for “Best Hard Rock Performance.”
The “In Memoriam” segment this year featured a high-profile musical tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, but the camera direction—which focused heavily on the performers—may have obscured some of the names displayed on the screens in the background. However, the apparent absence of a clear shot of Rivers has reignited frustrations regarding how the ceremony handles hard rock and heavy metal legacies.
This is not the first time the Grammys have been accused of overlooking major figures from the genre. The exclusion of Rivers adds him to a growing list of notable omissions from past televised broadcasts, a roster that includes Pantera‘s Vinnie Paul, Slayer‘s Jeff Hanneman, Slipknot co-founder Joey Jordison, Static-X frontman Wayne Static, Megadeth drummer Nick Menza, All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert, and GWAR leader Dave Brockie.
