Former Smash Mouth Lead Singer Steve Harwell in Hospice Care
Steve Harwell, former lead singer of rock group Smash Mouth, is in hospice care.
A rep for Harwell, 56, tells The Hollywood Reporter that he is “resting at home and being cared for by his fiancee and hospice care.”
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“Although Steve is here with us still, sadly it will only be for a short time,” the rep added.
According to TMZ, which first reported the news, Harwell has struggled with alcohol abuse for years and is in the final stage of liver failure.
According to reports, Harwell also was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2013, which led to acute Wernicke encephalopathy.
The frontman announced his retirement from the group in 2021, with a rep saying at the time that Harwell had been dealing with “long-term medical issues.” Smash Mouth continues to tour, with Zach Goode taking over lead vocals in 2022.
“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,” the group’s rep shared with THR on Sunday.
The rep noted that with Harwell as frontman, Smash Mouth has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and has had No. 1 hit singles, five Top 40 singles, three Hot 100 singles, four Billboard 200 albums and a Grammy nomination. Their work also was featured in the Shrek feature film franchise.
Among the songs that the group is known for are “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “All Star,” “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby” and covers of War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer.”
“Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation,” his rep told THR on Sunday. “Steve loved the fans and loved to perform.”
At the time of his retirement, Harwell said in a statement: “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. 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.”
Smash Mouth’s most recent studio album is Magic, released in 2021. They also released an acoustic version of their debut, Fush Yu Mang, in 2018.
Amid the news of Harwell’s health, his rep asked “that people would respect Steve and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
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