Harwell’s long-term alcohol misuse was something he hinted at when he retired from Smash Mouth in 2022. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper’s wellness vertical. Sometimes a liver biopsy may be required to help determine the best course of treatment. “Even though Steve has not been with Smash Mouth for two years now, and the band continues to tour with new vocalist Zach Goode his legacy will live on through the music,” Hayes told PEOPLE on Sunday. 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.
If alcohol abuse is a recurring problem for you or someone you love, it may be time to contact a treatment provider. They can help answer your rehab-related questions and discuss available treatment options. Harwell entered hospice care on Sunday and died on Monday, surrounded by his fiancée, smash mouth singer liver failure friends, and family in his Boise, Idaho home. «Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream,» Harwell said at the time.
Alcohol abuse is suspected to be a major factor in Harwell’s declining health, as Hayes confirmed Harwell had struggled with an addiction to alcohol throughout his life, according to an article published in The Guardian. This is thought to be the main contributing to his late-stage liver failure, confirmed to be the cause of death. TMZ, which was the first outlet to report the news, reported Harwell has «reached the final stage of liver failure» due to alcohol abuse throughout his life. TMZ was first to report that the singer was in the final stage of liver failure after previously undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse at a hospital.
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Smash Mouth were known for hits including “All Star” – which featured in the animated film Shrek – and “Then the Morning Comes”. Upon his retirement, the singer said he “dreamed of being a rock star” since he was a kid and thanked his bandmates. 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. In October 2021, Harwell announced his retirement from the band following a fumbled performance at a beer and wine festival.
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On Sunday, Hayes had said Harwell was «resting at home being cared for by his fiancée and hospice care» with only «a short time left to live.» Harwell dealt with multiple health conditions in the years prior to his death, including addiction, according to Hayes. «Liver failure does not necessarily have to be a death sentence,» Kushner says. But, she continues, «it’s not that anyone who wants a liver transplant just walks in and gets one.» There’s a waitlist for transplants and «very stringent criteria to determine who can qualify for a liver transplant,» Kushner says. «Acute liver failure is probably one of the scariest things in my field,» Dr. Catherine Lucero, assistant professor of clinical medicine and transplant hepatologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.
Steve Harwell dead at 56
- Smash Mouth were known for hits including “All Star” – which featured in the animated film Shrek – and “Then the Morning Comes”.
- Harwell’s retirement came on the heels of a controversial concert in upstate New York.
- «Acute liver failure is probably one of the scariest things in my field,» Dr. Catherine Lucero, assistant professor of clinical medicine and transplant hepatologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.
Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth, has entered hospice care as he suffers from the final stage of liver failure, according to sources. The heartbreaking news about Steve comes almost two years after he made headlines for going on a rant onstage, which can be seen above, and said he was retiring. Smash Mouth was performing at the Big Sip festival in Bethel, New York when the incident happened, and after video of his time went public, it left many fans confused.
«Good night Heevo Veev. Rest in peace knowing you aimed for the stars, and magically hit your target,» his manager said in tribute. TMZ further reported that Steve has been visited by friends and loved ones, who have gathered over the past three days, to say their goodbyes. Steve’s manager also reportedly told the outlet that he likely has just a week or so to live. Steve Harwell, former lead vocalist of the rock band Smash Mouth, is in hospice care, USA TODAY has learned. While some cases of liver failure can be reversed with treatment, other patients may need a liver transplant to survive.
Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell in hospice with ‘only a week or so to live’
“It has a multitude of etiologies and a variety of clinical presentations that can affect virtually every organ system. It is imperative for clinicians to recognize ALF early in patient presentation because initiation of treatment and transplant considerations could be lifesaving.” Read more. According to the American Liver Foundation, 4.5 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with liver disease which, if left untreated, can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
Harwell left Smash Mouth in October 2021 to «focus on his physical and mental health,» his representative told People at the time. 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. 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. It is more common, however, for acute liver failure to occur in people who have no prior history of liver problems.
«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. Among patients with alcoholic-related liver disease in early stages, 15% progressed to decompensation and 22% died within 6 years, according to data presented at EASL Congress. Disparities in receipt of liver transplantation and mortality persisted over time among hospitalized Black and Hispanic patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared with their white counterparts, according to data in JAMA Network Open. Many patients may already have chronic liver disease caused by factors such as consuming an abundance of alcohol. 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.
In October 2021, Harwell, after appearing disoriented onstage at a Smash Mouth concert in upstate New York, had taken a brief hiatus from the band before retiring for good a few days later. Similarly, Wernicke encephalopathy, or wet brain, is a neurological condition caused by a lack of B-vitamins. It is commonly diagnosed in people suffering from malnourishment due to alcohol misuse, with symptoms presenting as confusion, uncontrolled eye movement, and involuntary muscle movement. «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.
- «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, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth has died at the age of 56.
- Chronic liver failure, also called decompensated liver disease, can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite, the Cleveland Clinic says.
- Andrea Vacchiano is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
- Treatment for acute liver failure differs based on the underlying cause, the Johns Hopkins website notes, but may include options such as measures to counteract overdoses or medicine to treat underlying conditions.
Hayes called Harwell a «true American original,» and said he should be remembered for his unwavering focus and determination to reach the heights of pop stardom. The fact that Harwell did that with limited musical experience, he said, makes his achievements all the more remarkable. 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. «Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream,» Harwell had told People magazine. «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 retired from performing with the band two years ago and passed away after a short stay in hospice care. Among patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in the United States, 20% progressed to cirrhosis within 4 years, with female sex and nonsmoking status linked to lower risk for progression, according to data from the TARGET-NASH trial. A representative from Harwell’s management confirmed the tragic news to Fox News Digital. Acute liver failure can be caused by a sudden trigger that overloads an already damaged liver.