The former frontman for '90s rock band Smash Mouth has entered hospice care at 56 years old.
Steve Harwell, who retired from the band in 2021 over health concerns, is in the end state of liver failure and has only a week or so to live, Robert Hayes, a manager for Smash Mouth, confirmed to Insider after initial reports by TMZ. Harwell is home and being cared for by his fiancé, Hayes confirmed.
"Even though Steve has not been with Smash Mouth for 2 years now, and the band continues to tour with new vocalist Zach Goode, his legacy will live on through the music," Hayes said in a statement to Insider, lauding the two #1 hit singles, five Top 40 singles, three Hot 100 singles, four Billboard 200 albums, and Grammy nomination that Harwell received throughout his career.
Harwell sang and wrote songs for the band for nearly three decades before he stepped back two years ago. Smash Mouth is known for songs "Beside Myself" and "Everything Just Crazy," and two songs featured in the 2001 film "Shrek" — "All Star," which was so beloved it prompted the creation of long-standing online memes, as well as a cover of the Monkees classic, "I'm a Believer."
The band has not made any public comment regarding the singer's condition.
"Steve's iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation," Hayes told Insider. "Steve loved the fans and loved to perform. Although Steve is here with us still, sadly it will only be for a short time. My only additional comment is that we would hope that people would respect Steve and his family's privacy during this difficult time."
For roughly a decade, Harwell has been living with cardiomyopathy, which impacts the heart's ability to pump blood properly, and was also diagnosed Wernicke's encephalopathy. This neurological condition affects motor functions and speech and impairs memory, Insider previously reported. Harwell also once struggled with alcohol abuse, per Entertainment Weekly.
"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 a statement announcing his retirement in 2021, following a chaotic performance at a concert in upstate New York that circulated on TikTok, showing Harwell yelling at the audience and slurring his words.
He added: "I am so grateful to each and every one of you who has helped Smash Mouth sell over 10 million albums worldwide, put us on top of radio charts, and those who have kept All Star relevant as one of the top memes on the internet today."
