Lead Singer of Bay Area Band Smash Mouth, Steve Harwell, Says He’s Retiring Following Chaotic Show That Went Viral

The musician reportedly helped to set up a medical research fund in his son’s name. Steve Harwell, the lead singer of US band Smash Mouth, has died at the age of 56. “Liver failure does not necessarily have to be a death sentence,” Kushner says. Harwell retired from performing with the band two years ago and passed away after a short stay in hospice care. While naltrexone is usually tolerated well, it can have side effects that can range in severity.

• Abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption, especially for individuals with a long history of heavy drinking, can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, some of which are life-threatening.
• Throughout his life, Harwell battled with alcohol abuse, which ultimately took a toll on his health.
• Smash Mouth formed in 1994, beginning with Harwell and drummer Kevin Coleman, who met as twentysomethings in San Jose — Harwell had previously attended Prospect High School in Saratoga.
• While it requires consistent use of the medication, naltrexone may help you reduce your drinking over time.
• For people with liver failure due to alcohol addiction, treatment may include lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from alcohol, rehab or therapy to address the factors driving someone to drink.
• And the Bay Area band’s longtime frontman Steve Harwell says he’s retiring to focus on his mental and physical health.

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“At first it was weird, and we were a bit guarded and resistant,” Harwell said of the song’s online popularity, in a 2017 interview with Polygon. His distinctive, raspy rap-singing voice was instantly recognisable and several of Smash Mouth’s songs became viral sensations. Smash Mouth had a string of hits in the 1990s and 2000s with All Star, Walkin’ on the Sun and I’m a Believer.

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He’d been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy several years ago, according to previous interviews with People. The condition occurs when the heart muscles can’t effectively pump blood to the rest of the body, the Mayo Clinic explains, and it can later lead to heart failure, blood clots and cardiac arrest. Harwell dealt with multiple health conditions in the years prior to his death, including addiction, according to Hayes. Last weekend’s meltdown by Harwell and chaos on stage was not the first public incident of its kind, and it’s been eight years since Harwell disclosed his medical condition, which has impacts on his speech and motor control. Sometimes a liver biopsy may be required to help determine the best course of treatment. If you or a loved one suddenly develops a yellowing of the eyes or skin, tenderness in the abdomen or unusual changes in mental state, seek medical attention right away, the clinic advises.

• By administering naltrexone prior to consuming alcohol, the pleasurable feelings that drinking usually produces are blocked.
• The most common side effects involve increased nervousness, muscle or joint pain, headache, nausea, and upset stomach.
• This can cause excessive drinking, which is why consistently using naltrexone before every drink is critical for success.
• Because it engages people with alcohol-treatment professionals, it may help lead people to better recognize the extent of their problem while also giving them the hope and motivation to keep working toward giving up alcohol.
• Many patients may already have chronic liver disease caused by factors such as  consuming an abundance of alcohol.
• Harwell had previously taken a few weeks off from touring with the band, as People Magazine reported just a week ago, due to what they said were “heart health issues.”

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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. 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. The band’s manager had earlier said Harwell was in the final stages of liver failure and was receiving end of life care at his home.

His death was attributed to acute liver failure, marking the end of an era for Smash Mouth and leaving a world of alternative rock music. While it is not known when exactly his alcohol abuse started, in 2013, the singer was also diagnosed with the neurological condition of Wernicke Encephalopathy, which greatly impacted his memory and speech. TMZ reported on Sunday, September 3, that Steve Harwell, who had long been suffering from liver failure, was under hospice care in his steve harwell alcholism home in Boise, Idaho surrounded by family members. If they do receive a transplant and continue to drink, “then their new liver will also fail eventually.” If someone gets diagnosed with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure, “there is an antidote to give,” Lucero says.

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In a statement Robert Hayes said Harwell died at his home in Idaho, “surrounded by family and friends”. Although the condition is “extremely rare,” Lucero says, it’s also always an emergency. It occurs when, all of a sudden, the liver just stops working in somebody who has no known liver condition, Lucero says.

The first one was almost like a speed high, and it kinda pissed me off because I felt that it didn’t show even a third of what we were capable of. As we reflect on his life and legacy, let it be a call to action, urging those grappling with alcoholism to seek professional help and reminding society of the importance of extending support and compassion. Harwell’s journey serves as a reminder of the urgent need to destigmatize alcoholism and promote open conversations about addiction. By extending understanding and empathy, we create an environment where individuals feel safe seeking assistance, embarking on the journey to recovery, and ultimately reintegrating into society with renewed hope and purpose. Detoxification, a critical initial step, aids in cleansing the body of alcohol toxins, paving the way for a healthier recovery journey.

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According to Johns Hopkins, taking too much acetaminophen — the pain reliever found in Tylenol and other over-the-counter and prescription products — causes most cases of acute liver failure. Acute liver failure, also known as fulminant hepatic failure, is a rare but life-threatening condition in which the liver loses function. He was previously hospitalized because of liver failure stemming from years of alcoholism and substance abuse and was receiving treatment in the hospital for the same. 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.

As they face the profound loss, they are united in their memories of a beloved father, partner, and friend. Despite his personal challenges, he left behind a musical legacy that will continue to resonate with audiences for generations to come. Harwell’s journey in music began when he co-founded Smash Mouth in 1994, along with Greg Camp, Kevin Coleman, and Paul De Lisle. Let us know in the comments section below as we pay our respects to the legendary rock star. Despite many obstacles in his life, Harwell thrived to create his own legacy, becoming one of the most influential figures in the rock genre. Get a daily look at the top news in music, movies, television and more in the entertainment industry.