Steve Harwell, the original lead singer of Smash Mouth, has passed away. This news comes just one day after we learned he’d entered hospice care. His manager confirmed Harwell entered end-of-life care at home on September 3rd. News of his passing came earlier this morning, on September 4th.
Harwell had been experiencing serious medical issues for several years. He had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and Wernicke’s encephalopathy. He was in the final stage of liver failure ,which he had been treating at a hospital.
Health complications were a contributing factor to him retiring from Smash Mouth 2 years ago. After a disturbing incident where he was slurring his words and appeared disoriented during a live performance.
Smash Mouth rose the the top of the charts in 1997 with their song “Walking on The Sun.” Then came their mega hit “All Star” in 1999. Which come into the limelight again in 2001 when it and their cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” were featured on the “Shrek” soundtrack.
Harwell was 56 years old. Our thoughts are with him and those close to him during this trying time.
