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”. Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth has died at the age of 56. Steve Harwell passed away Monday morning in his home in Boise, Idaho, surrounded by family and friends. The Smash Mouth singer’s cause of death was liver failure, the band’s manager Robert Hayes told The New York Times. Although an official cause of death has not been confirmed, Harwell’s manager said in a statement Monday the singer had died from acute liver failure after being moved to hospice care.

  • Harwell’s pop-punk style earned him legions of fans over the years as Smash Mouth landed two No. 1 hit singles and a Grammy nomination, selling over 10 million albums worldwide before he left the band two years ago.
  • Despite his fame and success with Smash Mouth, Harwell’s struggle with alcohol abuse led to serious health complications, ultimately culminating in his diagnosis of cirrhosis and the need for a liver transplant.
  • Harwell entered hospice care on Sunday and died on Monday, surrounded by his fiancée, friends, and family in his Boise, Idaho home.
  • This happens because the alcohol is broken down into acetalhyde, which is toxic to the organ.
  • Imagine the liver, an organ designed to detoxify your body, giving in to the constant onslaught of alcohol, leading to irreversible damage and, eventually, failure.

“All the organs in the body work together, so if one fails, then you start seeing other organs fail, as well,” Kushner explains. “It’s a cascade of events that pretty rapidly can lead to multi-organ dysfunction, and ultimately, that’s what people pass away from.” It’s crucial to encourage individuals and society to engage in open dialogues about alcoholism, recognizing that it’s a complex issue that affects people from all walks of life. When tackling alcohol addiction, individuals often find solace and guidance through professional medical care. Physicians generally employ a range of diagnostic tests to assess liver function and identify alcohol-related liver disease. The diagnosis led to multiple medical setbacks, including heart failure and acute Wernicke encephalopathy, affecting his speech and memory.

  • Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell died Monday after suffering liver failure due to alcohol addiction, reports said.
  • The Grammy-nominated band, which formed in 1994 in San Jose, Calif., and scored hits like “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star,” had to postpone several shows in 2017 as Harwell underwent heart treatment.
  • It’s important to understand that alcohol addiction is a disease that requires alcohol addiction treatment, and getting help is the first step towards recovery.
  • With their catchy hooks, infectious energy, and irreverent charm, the band became synonymous with the carefree spirit of the 90s and early 2000s.

We now know that Steve Harwell’s official cause of death was acute liver failure. The fact he was in hospice tells us that his death, sad as it was, was not sudden or unexpected. In the late 90s, you could scarcely make it through a day without hearing their 1999 hit “All Star” blaring from a car stereo in a passing Jeep Wrangler or convertible Ford Mustang.

Harwell’s carefree youth was undoubtedly behind him, but few of us expect to die in our 50s, especially from what is generally a preventable illness. Once Steve Harwell’s cause of death was made public, it was inevitable that the curiosity of fans and the media would lead to questions. Celebrity alcohol addiction was bound to enter the conversation, especially since the Smashmouth frontman had been open about his battle with alcohol in the past. Harwell had been in hospice care and was given only days to live this past weekend, TMZ reported. He was reportedly receiving end-of-life care at home with his family and friends by his side. TMZ reports that he succumbed to his health battles with alcohol abuse, among other ailments.

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Two years after its release, it was featured in the opening credits of Shrek, leading to Smash Mouth becoming synonymous with the famous movie. “We had no clue how big Shrek was going to be,” Harwell told Rolling Stone in 2019. His condition worsened and he was shifted to hospice care before his death on Monday. 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. This is because any further use of alcohol or other substances can lead to rapid damage to the newly transplanted liver, causing the operation to fail. But many transplant centers will refuse the operation to people who are currently active substance abusers or alcoholics.

“The way we distinguish between the two is largely based on history,” she explains. That means “knowing whether they had a chronic ongoing liver injury or confirming that they’ve never had any liver injury, but now come in with a new situation where their liver’s not working.” Liver failure is a condition in which the liver can no longer keep functioning at normal levels. By breaking down the barriers of stigma, we pave the way for a more empathetic understanding of addiction and create an environment where recovery can flourish. Above all, advocating for support and compassion towards those affected by alcoholism is paramount. In this controlled environment, individuals can receive appropriate care and support, maximizing their chances of a successful and safe transition toward sobriety.

Doctors are typically able to decide whether or not a patient is a transplant candidate — and, if so, get them listed for a transplant — within a day, Lucero says. The challenge with acute liver failure patients, though, is that they “have to be able to agree to take lifelong immune suppression to prevent rejection of the organ,” Lucero explains. “He was surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully and comfortably,” the band’s manager, Robert Hayes, said in a statement to NBC News. “Steve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle,” the statement continues. In a statement released the day before his death, Hayes said the singer was in the final stages of liver failure.

Despite the band’s commercial success and widespread acclaim, Harwell’s personal struggles with alcoholism cast a shadow over his public persona. Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell’s dynamic stage presence and charismatic vocals played a pivotal role in shaping Smash Mouth’s identity. His ability to connect with audiences on a visceral level transcended the boundaries of traditional rock stardom, cementing his status as an iconic figure in music history. Alongside ‘I’m a Believer’, which reached the US Top 30, Smash Mouth was known for its successful covers of other hit songs, including ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends? He also reportedly suffered from cardiomyopathy, where weak heart muscles results in deteriorated speech and memory.

This article honors Harwell’s life and work, emphasizing his influence on the music industry and raising awareness about the detrimental effects of alcohol addiction. Steve Harwell manages his public image with grace and authenticity, openly addressing his struggles with addiction and advocating for greater awareness and support. His willingness to confront his demons publicly has earned him respect and admiration, fostering empathy and understanding within the music community.

Our dual-diagnosis treatment program in New Jersey will help you or your loved one find sobriety. The thorough road map to recovery we provide upon completion of the program will help them hold onto it. Known for her deep, soulful crooning and timeless, genre-busting songs that seem to originate from an old soul, Winehouse became a member of the tragic “27 Club” when she passed away in 2011. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper’s wellness vertical.

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For example, if someone took too much acetaminophen, doctors have medications available to help counter the toxicity. Harwell left Smash Mouth in October 2021 to “focus on his physical and mental health,” his representative told People at the time. If they do receive a transplant and continue to drink, “then their new liver will also fail eventually.” In some cases, treatments can prevent further complications or help reverse acute liver failure by giving the liver time to heal, the Mayo Clinic says.

His journey serves as a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, and that no one is immune to the challenges of addiction. As we honor his legacy, let us also reaffirm our commitment to supporting those in need, breaking down barriers, and fostering a community of healing and hope. Steve Harwell’s official cause of death was acute liver failure, a consequence of his struggles with alcohol addiction, which led to his passing at the age of 56 after a stay in hospice. Steven Scott Harwell, born on January 9, 1967, in Santa Clara, California, is a prominent figure in the music industry and the Smash Mouth lead singer. From a young age, Harwell discovered his passion for music, setting the stage for a remarkable career ahead.

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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. Detoxification, a critical initial step, aids in cleansing the body of alcohol toxins, paving the way for a healthier recovery journey. Additionally, alcohol can compromise the liver’s ability to regenerate, making it increasingly susceptible to failure when damaged.

Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell dead at 56 after suffering liver failure

Recently, some experts have started using the term acute on chronic liver failure. In this situation, a patient “may have underlying long-standing chronic liver disease or cirrhosis,” Kushner explains, and then an infection or other issue “on top of that leads to liver failure.” Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell died Monday after suffering liver failure due to alcohol addiction, reports said. The former Smash Mouth frontman died of liver failure on Monday at the age of 56, just a day after it was announced that he had entered hospice care as a result of years of alcohol abuse. Chronic and/or long-term alcohol misuse not only causes more damage to the liver—but it can also undermine its miraculous ability for regeneration.

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Imagine the liver, an organ designed to detoxify your body, giving in to the constant onslaught of alcohol, leading to irreversible damage and, eventually, failure. It was reported that he had been dealing with alcohol abuse and its physical effects for years. Throughout his life, Harwell battled with alcohol abuse, which ultimately took a toll on his health. Harwell’s remarkable journey in the music industry led him to pop stardom with hits like “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All-Star,” making Smash Mouth a staple of the late ’90s pop radio landscape. In his announcement, Hayes mentioned Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably” surrounded by loved ones, just a day after being reported to be under hospice care.

While the official cause of death is yet to be confirmed, Smash Mouth’s manager Robert Hayes shared that the cause of Harwell’s death was liver failure, reported Daily Mail. “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,” Harwell continued. Steve Harwell, former lead vocalist of the rock band Smash Mouth, is in hospice care, USA TODAY has learned. Some medical institutions even require a time period someone needs to be sober for before being eligible to be placed on the transplant waiting list. For example, Johns Hopkins University in Maryland says alcoholics need to be sober for at least six months before they can be considered for a liver transplant.

In October 2021, Harwell announced his retirement from the band following a fumbled performance at a beer and wine festival. During an appearance with the band at how did steve harwell die alcohol The Big Sip in New York, a video of Harwell slurring his speech, cursing at the audience, and making a gesture that resembled a Nazi salute, became viral. Doctors say liver damage can be treated in the early stages — and may even be reversible — by tackling the root cause. 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. This is why we pride ourselves on providing an exemplary aftercare and discharge planning service.