Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell is seriously ill and only has 'a week or so' to live
Stewart Perrie
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Smash Mouth. Lester Cohen/Getty Images.
The lead singer from Smash Mouth, Steve Harwell, is seriously ill.
His manager has revealed to TMZ the iconic musician is in hospice and his friends and family have been visiting over the last few days to say their goodbyes.
Harwell is in 'the final stage of liver failure' and his manager says he only has a 'week or so' left to live.
The 56-year-old had been receiving treatment for his liver in hospital up until quite recently however he's now been moved to hospice care.
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It comes two years after the 'All Star' singer retired from Smash Mouth due to health issues.
Back in 2021, he was on stage at the Big Sip festival in upstate New York and started slurring his words and gave 'crude' gestures to the crowd, according to The New York Post.
His representative told the outlet shortly after that incident that he would be leaving the band.
"Steve has been dealing with long-term medical issues over the last eight years and during his last performance at the Big Sip stage, he suffered numerous symptoms directly linked with his current medical situation,” they said.
“As of today, Steve will be retiring from Smash Mouth to focus on his physical and mental health."
They added: "Despite Steve’s best efforts to work through these ailments, he is heartbroken to share that it has become impossible for him to continue doing what he loves most, performing in front of the band’s millions of fans around the world."
The singer was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy nearly a decade ago, which is a chronic disease of the heart muscle.
He has reportedly suffered from heart failure and acute Wernicke encephalopathy since that diagnosis.
After it was revealed he would be leaving Smash Mouth, Harwell said it has been an incredible ride.
He told TMZ: “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.
"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.
“To our loyal and amazing fans, thank you, all of this was possible because of you. 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.
"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.
“I cannot wait to see what Smash Mouth accomplishes next and am looking forward to counting myself as one of the band’s newest fans.”