


Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell died at age 56 after suffering from liver failure, band manager Robert Hayes confirmed Monday.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Hayes said the musician was “surrounded by family and friends,” adding that he “passed peacefully and comfortably.”
“Steve has been retired from Smash Mouth for two years now, and the band continues to tour with new vocalist Zach Goode,” Hayes continued. “That said, Steve’s legacy will live on through the music.
“Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. He loved the fans and loved to perform. Steve Harwell was a true American Original … Steve should be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom. And the fact that he achieved this near-impossible goal with very limited musical experience makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable.”
Hayes concluded, “His only tools were his irrepressible charm and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition, and his king-size cajones. Steve lived a 100 percent full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out.”
On Sunday, a rep for the “I’m a Believer” musicians told Entertainment Weekly that Harwell had been placed in hospice care at home after suffering from liver failure.
The rep added that he had “only a week or so to live” and friends and family had gathered to visit the musician over the past few days.
“We hope that people respect Steve and his family’s privacy during this difficult time,” the rep told the outlet.
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Harwell had been dealing with serious health issues over the years.
In 2013, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, per Mayo Clinic.
Three years later, he was hospitalized after collapsing onstage during a show in Illinois.
The Grammy-nominated group had to postpone several shows in 2017 as Harwell underwent treatment for his heart.
Additionally, he had been dealing with heart failure, as well as acute Wernicke Encephalopathy, which is defined as an acute neurological condition that primarily affects the peripheral and central nervous systems, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Due to his ongoing health complications, Harwell announced that he would be retiring from Smash Mouth — of whom he was a founding member.
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a rock star performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream,” he wrote in October 2021. “To my bandmates, it’s been an honor performing with you all these years and I can’t think of anyone else I would have rather gone on this wild journey with.”
Harwell then thanked his “loyal and amazing fans,” whom he said he tried to “power through” his issues to play for.