Steve Harwell Dead At 56 From Liver Failure

Since 90% of all alcohol is processed through the liver, the organ is at the highest risk for cell degeneration and damage caused by the substance. This can result in fatty liver disease and cirrhosis of the liver, ultimately leading to liver failure if left untreated. 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.”

  1. Harwell left Smash Mouth in 2021, though the band continued to tour with Zach Goode as its lead singer.
  2. Over time, the symptoms may become more severe as the disease advances.
  3. It occurs when, all of a sudden, the liver just stops working in somebody who has no known liver condition, Lucero says.

The fact that Harwell did that with limited musical experience, he said, makes his achievements all the more remarkable. 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. 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. 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.

Help For Alcohol Addiction

Chronic liver failure, also called decompensated liver disease, can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite, the Cleveland Clinic says. Over time, the symptoms may become more severe as the disease advances. Steve Harwell, former lead singer what is a substance abuse counselor for rock band Smash Mouth, died at age 56 on Sept. 4, 2023, due to acute liver failure. Harwell issued a statement saying he needed to work on longstanding physical and mental health issues. Steve Harwell died from acute liver failure, his band’s manager told NBC News.

As they face the profound loss, they are united in their memories of a beloved father, partner, and friend. It is a stark reminder of the dangers of substance abuse and its potentially fatal consequences. Harwell’s passing underscores the need for greater awareness and support for individuals dealing with addiction.

In August, the rapper got candid on social media about his journey to sobriety and said he hadn’t “had a single sip of alcohol in 2021.” While Steve Harwell may no longer be with us, his music’s memory and impact will endure, serving as a source of comfort and inspiration for his family and countless fans worldwide. Durinchallengingfficult time, the Harwell family asks for privacy and understanding as they mourn their beloved family member.

Steve Harwell Cause Of Death: Drinking Leading To Liver Failure

Steve Harwell, former lead singer of Smash Mouth, tragically passed away due to chronic liver failure on September 4, 2023. “All liver diseases, if untreated, can cause chronic liver damage,” Vijh said. 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.

Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. But at that point, they may already be comatose, which means the hospital’s social work team needs to find out who the patient’s care team is and substance abuse counseling if they’d be someone who might agree to that. We may receive advertising fees if you follow links to promoted online therapy websites. A fatal lung disease sparks an investigation into the effects of vaping on the body.

Steve Harwell, the longtime frontman of the Grammy-nominated pop-rock band Smash Mouth, has died. According to Vijh, preventative measures for liver failure “are all things that people should be doing for their overall health too.” Hayes has told the US Sun that Harwell is surrounded by family and friends. 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. 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.

Robbie Robertson, leader of Canadian-US group The Band, dies at 80

Steve Harwell, most notably known as the founding lead singer of the rock band Smash Mouth, passed away on Monday, reported longtime band manager Robert Hayes. Tragically, Steve Harwell passed away on September 4, 20age of 56, in Boise, Idaho. 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. 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.

Harwell, who sang hits like All Star and Then the Morning Comes, suffered acute liver failure, band manager says. The band’s manager, Robert Hayes, said the cause of death was acute liver failure. 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.

It is most often the result of long-term liver disease, which has many contributing factors, including genetics, infections, immunodeficiencies, and long-term alcohol abuse. Both conditions are said to have negatively affected Harwell over the years and are thought to have contributed to him suffering from late-stage liver failure, his ultimate cause of death, according to USA Today. “I want to live the richest life I can,” Harlow tells Rolling Stone, talking about his ambition. “Sebastian,” a single featured on the band’s debut album, “The Human Menagerie,” released in 1973, became a No. 1 hit in Belgium and the Netherlands, according to Mr. Harley’s website. However, there are certain “risk factors” that contribute to liver damage, and in some cases, lead to liver failure. “This can happen towards the end stages of most liver disease, or earlier on in specific liver diseases.”

Harwell left Smash Mouth in 2021, though the band continued to tour with Zach Goode as its lead singer. 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. Harwell had “many health issues,” and died from acute liver failure, the band’s manager Robert Hayes confirmed. With chronic liver disease, people may lose their liver function slowly, often over a period of many years — even decades, Kushner explains.

If someone gets diagnosed with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure, “there is an antidote to give,” Lucero says. “And if it’s given early enough, it can help avoid the need for a liver transplant.” Patients may also receive a special form of continual dialysis, which can help decrease the amount of ammonia in their body, she adds. Liver failure is when the liver shuts down and is unable to carry out important bodily functions.

Harwell left Smash Mouth in October 2021 to “focus on his physical and mental health,” his representative told People at the time. Harwell later developed Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a sudden brain and memory disorder that’s caused by a lack of vitamin B1, which causes brain damage, the Cleveland Clinic explains. People with a history of alcohol use disorder are more likely to develop the condition. In many cases, though, a liver transplant is the only effective option. “The way we distinguish between the two is largely based on history,” she explains. That means “knowing whether they had a chronic ongoing liver injury or confirming that they’ve never had any liver injury, but now come in with a new situation where their liver’s not working.”

Some liver problems can be treated with lifestyle modifications in a program that includes monitoring liver function, according to Mayo Clinic. Other liver problems might require medications or surgery, the agency said, adding cases of liver failure may even require a liver transplant. The good news is, most cases of treating liver disease are manageable with the help of health care professionals.