Author: Charles Frank

Former lead singer of the band Smash Mouth Steve Harwell dies at 56 : NPR

steve harwell cause of death drinking

Harwell issued a statement saying he needed to work on longstanding physical and mental health issues. His manager, Hayes, said Harwell lived a “100% full-throttle life.” Former Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell died Monday at age 56 from acute liver failure. The artist, whose band is best known for the 1999 hit “All Star,” had been in hospice care, according to representative Robert Hayes.

Smash Mouth burst onto the scene in the late 1990s with the release of the band’s major-label debut, “Fush Yu Mang,” which went on to sell two million copies. The album’s follow-up, “Astro Lounge,” featured the Billboard Hot 100 hit “All Star.” The band also contributed to the soundtrack of the animated film “Shrek” in 2001. “I’ve tried so hard to power through my physical and mental health issues and to play in front of you one last time, but I just wasn’t able to,” Harwell said in the news release. The “All Star” singer, who retired from the band two years ago, died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, Hayes said. Let’s remember an all-star of late ’90s alternative rock.

What to know about acute liver failure, Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth’s cause of death

Steve Harwell, the former frontman of the band Smash Mouth, died yesterday at the age of 56. Several conditions are also risk factors for acute liver failure, Johns Hopkins adds, including hepatitis, Wilson’s disease, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus. Alcohol also plays a role in the health of your liver, though it is more directly a cause of chronic liver failure, which is more common and develops over a longer period.

  1. 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.
  2. Following the performance, his reps at the time said in a news release that the video had “been taken out of context” to misrepresent the singer.
  3. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor.

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. Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell died on Monday from liver failure, the band’s manager Robert Hayes confirmed. 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.

Smash Mouth Singer Steve Harwell’s Cause of Death Revealed

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. The heart disease led to “serious medical setbacks” for Harwell, including heart failure and acute Wernicke encephalopathy, the latter of which affected his speech and memory.

His death was confirmed by the band’s manager, Robert Hayes, who said the cause was acute liver failure. He said Harwell was “surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully and comfortably.” Harwell had “many health issues,” and died from acute liver failure, the band’s manager Robert Hayes confirmed. 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.

steve harwell cause of death drinking

For example, if someone took too much acetaminophen, doctors have medications available to help counter the toxicity. In some cases of acute liver failure, however, the cause is unknown. 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.

Harwell “suffered numerous symptoms” from his medical condition during his performance in 2021, according to his rep. The band is most known for hits like “All Star” and their cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer,” which can be heard in the “Shrek!” soundtrack. Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell died Monday at his home in Boise, Idaho.

Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth, has died at 56

Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth, has died. According to the band’s manager, the cause of death was acute liver failure. Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth has died at the age of 56. The cause of death was acute liver failure, according to the band’s manager.

The band’s manager, Robert Hayes, said the cause of death was acute liver failure. He and the band, including Greg Camp on guitar, Paul De Lisle on bass and Kevin Coleman on drums, shot to fame with hits such the 1997’s “Walking on the Sun” and “All Star” from the 1999 album Astro Lounge. “All Star” appeared in the 2001 animated movie Shrek, as did the band’s cover version of the Monkees’ classic “I’m a Believer.” The Mayo Clinic says you can also reduce your risk of acute liver failure through prevention, including following instructions on medications, reducing alcohol consumption and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B.

More from CBS News

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 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. During Harwell’s tenure with Smash Mouth, the band sold over ten million albums worldwide, had two #1 hit singles and a Grammy nomination. While some cases of liver failure can be reversed with treatment, other patients may need a liver transplant to survive. 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. Acute liver failure, also known as fulminant hepatic failure, is a rare but life-threatening condition in which the liver loses function.

Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell dies at 56 of acute liver failure

Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper’s wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News’ HealthWatch. 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.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Following the performance, his reps at the time said in a news release that the video had “been taken out of context” to misrepresent the singer. In a statement to USA TODAY, Harwell’s reps then revealed that the frontman had been battling health issues for the past eight years stemming from his diagnosis with cardiomyopathy. Harwell dealt with hardships through much of life, TMZ reports. His infant son Presley died in July 2001 at only 6 months old due to leukemia. He created a medical research fund in Presley’s name.

Harwell formed Smash Mouth, best known for its hits like “All Star” and “Walkin’ on the Sun,” in 1994 in San Jose, California. The band also featured drummer Kevin Coleman, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle. Harwell told Rolling Stone in 2019 how proud he was of “Walkin’ on the Sun,” which turned out to be their breakout hit off their debut album Fush Yu Mang, saying the song changed music. “It changed the way people listen to music,” Harwell said, calling the track “so different,” “so unusual” and “so special.” Harwell had been in hospice care and was given only days to live this past weekend, TMZ reported.

“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. Hayes said with Harwell, Smash Mouth sold over 10 million albums worldwide. “Steve Harwell was a true American Original,” Hayes said.