What killed Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell? Singer dies after suffering liver failure from years of addiction and drugs

Harwell, who was a pop culture icon with hit numbers like ‘All Star’ and ‘I’m a Believer’, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2013. “Smash Mouth songs have been the soundtrack to so many people’s lives and I’m honored to care for them in my own little way, even if only for a while. I love singing these songs every night and carrying on the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll in front of the best fans in the world,” he added. Although we never met personally, I have an enormous amount of respect for what he accomplished and the legacy that he left behind. Harwell dealt with multiple health conditions in the years prior to his death, including addiction, according to Hayes.

This is when a portion of a healthy liver is taken from a living donor and transplanted into an individual who has liver failure, replacing their damaged organ and growing to a fully functioning liver. Many patients may already have chronic liver disease caused by factors such as  consuming an abundance of alcohol. Liver failure, the loss of liver function, is rare and kills approximately 50,000 adults in the US per year. An estimated 5.5million are thought to have cirrhosis, or severe scarring of the liver often caused by alcoholism, which can lead to liver failure.

TMZ reported that the singer had for years dealt with alcohol abuse and addiction issues. Steve Harwell’s journey in the music industry is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. Born on January 9, 1967, in Santa Clara, California, Harwell discovered his love for music at an early age. His journey with Smash Mouth began in the mid-1990s when he joined forces with guitarist Greg Camp, bassist Paul De Lisle, and drummer Kevin Coleman to form the band. Both conditions can be caused by alcohol abuse, which damages the organ and leads it to replace healthy cells with scar tissue — impairing its function.

Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell: Alcohol Addiction, Struggles, and Legacy

They welcomed a son named Presley Scott who unfortunately died of lymphocytic leukemia when he was six months old. Jimmy Buffett passed away in the recent days, while Tina Turner was another major name whose health suffered in the recent years. As we remember Steve Harwell and his accomplishments, we are reminded of the difficulties and obstacles that can arise with alcoholism. Promoting education and providing accessible resources for prevention, early intervention, and treatment empowers individuals to make informed choices and seek help when needed. Medical detox minimizes the physical risks and addresses the psychological and emotional challenges during this critical recovery phase.

Harwell’s legacy extends far beyond the confines of music, serving as a testament to the transformative power of resilience, recovery, and redemption. For those who require a whole liver transplant, there is also a shortage of organs — with most being reserved only for patients most in need. There is also the desire of fans and hangers-on to party with the famous person. Celebrities are often people-pleasers by nature and they may struggle to say no to moving the party to one more bar or to going out for another night, even when they know they shouldn’t. The pressures of fame, the lack of privacy, the demands of employers, and the expectations of fans.

Why did Steve Harwell quit ‘Smash Mouth’?

• After that became public, he announced that he was officially retiring from his musical career.
• Despite the band’s commercial success and widespread acclaim, Harwell’s personal struggles with alcoholism cast a shadow over his public persona.
• In his final days in upstate New York, his legacy from Smash Mouth concert performances was remembered fondly, with many saying “burning brightly, Steve lived”.
• Best known for the 1999 hit “All Star,” Harwell’s “iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. He loved the fans and loved to perform,” the statement said.

It breaks down nutrients and chemicals and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The representative noted that he was struggling with alcohol abuse throughout his life which led to the liver failure. TMZ reported on Sunday, September 3, that Steve Harwell, who had long been suffering from liver failure, was under hospice care in his home in Boise, Idaho surrounded by family members.

It was a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970, that ultimately took her from this world. Harwell also dabbled in acting and television, appearing on VH1’s sixth season of The Surreal Life and having a cameo (along with the rest of the band) in the 2001 film Rat Race. It wasn’t until 2001 though, with the release of the first Shrek film, when their hits “All Star” and “I’m a Believer” were featured on the film’s soundtrack that the band achieved mainstream success.

Celebrity alcohol addiction, like any other alcohol use disorder, places tremendous strain on the liver. Harwell entered hospice care on Sunday and died on Monday, surrounded by his fiancée, friends, and family in his Boise, Idaho home. Further adding, “As of today, Steve will be retiring from Smash Mouth to focus on his physical and mental health.” In 2016, the rockstar collapsed on stage during a concert performance and had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. His condition worsened and he was shifted to hospice care before his death on Monday.

• All of these ailments, along with an acute drinking problem that damaged the singer’s body in different ways including liver failure have contributed to his health deteriorating to a fatal level.
• Though never going public with his addiction struggle, an inside source revealed that Harwell struggled with many unspecified addictions over the years, as reported to Billboard.
• If you are someone you know is dangerously impaired or unresponsive, call your local emergency number or 911 for help.
• Steve Harwell died from acute liver failure, his band’s manager told NBC News.

People suffering from cardiomyopathy may present with boating of the abdomen, dizziness, breathlessness, and rapid heartbeat. Excessive, long-term alcohol use is one of the contributing behaviors that can cause this condition. In 2013, the California-born singer was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a combination of diseases that affects the heart. He had also been suffering from Wernicke encephalopathy, which causes several painful symptoms such as difficulty walking, hypothermia, and confusion.

Was Steve Harwell Married When He Died?

Steve Harwell is experiencing the last chapter of his life — this after battling medical complications for years — and his family is saying their goodbyes … Liver failure is when the vital organ is no longer able to carry out its critical functions. It is diagnosed via blood tests, which can reveal whether the organ is working properly.

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It occurs when, all of a sudden, the liver just stops working in somebody who has no known liver condition, Lucero says. Best known for the 1999 hit “All Star,” Harwell’s “iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. He loved the fans and loved to perform,” the statement said. Harwell’s journey serves as a reminder of the urgent need to destigmatize alcoholism and promote open conversations about addiction. This proactive approach can lead to healthier relationships with alcohol and prevent the progression of addiction. In this controlled environment, individuals can receive appropriate care and support, maximizing their chances of a successful and safe transition toward sobriety.

Although Steve didn’t perform much as a lead vocalist in his final years, his recordings were still popular, especially among those nostalgic for the 90s. Additionally, he had been dealing with heart failure, as well as Wernicke encephalopathy, an acute neurological condition that affects the nervous system, according to the National Library of Medicine. Steve Harwell’s passion for music began at a young age, leading him to join local bands and hone his skills as a vocalist. His breakthrough came when he co-founded Smash Mouth in 1994, with the band’s debut album, “Fush Yu Mang,” and hit single, “Walkin’ on the Sun,” propelling them to international fame. Through his advocacy efforts, Harwell sought to destigmatize addiction and promote a culture of compassion and understanding. By sharing his story with candor and vulnerability, he encouraged others to embrace vulnerability and seek help without shame or judgment.

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“You can still have actually a functioning liver that has a lot of scarring,” she says, but eventually the scarring will likely impact liver function and lead to liver failure. With chronic liver failure, patients usually have long-standing liver disease, Kushner says, which can be caused by long-term alcohol use, hepatitis viruses, autoimmune conditions and genetic conditions. People who have certain long-term medical issues, or who currently or previously consumed an excessive amount of alcohol are at higher risk for liver failure, Cleveland Clinic says. But with acute liver failure, liver function deteriorates much more quickly, usually over days or weeks, the Mayo Clinic says. Harwell later developed Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a sudden brain and memory disorder that’s caused by a lack of vitamin B1, which causes brain damage, the Cleveland Clinic explains. People with did steve harwell have a drinking problem a history of alcohol use disorder are more likely to develop the condition.

When you or someone you know is grappling with long-term alcohol use, you must be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of liver damage. Acute liver failure is a rapid deterioration of liver function, typically occurring within days or weeks, which can result in complications like jaundice, bleeding, and impaired mental function. The battle against alcoholism is a complex interplay of medical, emotional, and societal challenges, reminding us all that treating this disease requires understanding, empathy, and concerted medical intervention. While you might perceive it as a mere habit that can be easily shaken off, the health consequences of long-term alcohol abuse are far more severe. Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell is currently having serious medical complications after he’s experiencing lethal kidney failure and according to doctors, he only has a few weeks to live.

Steve Harwell’s official cause of death was attributed to acute liver failure, a tragic end linked to his long battle with alcohol addiction. Smash Mouth released significant albums like ‘Fush Yu Mang’ in 1997 and ‘Astro Lounge’ in 1999, which solidified their place in music history. In addition to acute liver failure, Harwell was suffering from cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that was causing serious issues in other parts of his body. These issues included heart failure and acute Wernicke encephalopathy, the latter of which caused Harwell to have speech and memory problems.

Steve Harwell’s will has not publicly been announced yet, but $2.5 million is no small amount to divvy up. Steve Harwell’s estate assumably contains cash, the rights to his music, as well as his home in Boise, where he died. While the terms of Steve Harwell’s will have yet to be disclosed, Harwell felt strongly about childhood leukemia, especially after his son died from it. With no other family members in the picture besides his ex-wife, with whom he had a rocky relationship, it is expected most of Steve Harwell’s estate will pass to his charity in his son’s name. The rep had warned that Harwell had “only a week or so to live” and that friends and family had gathered to visit him over the past few days.