Steve Harwell, former singer of rock group Smash Mouth, is in hospice.
A representative for Harwell, 56, explains The Hollywood reporter that he is “resting at home while being cared for by his fiancée and hospice care.”
“While Steve is still with us, unfortunately this will only be for a short time,” the rep added.
According to TMZ, which one comes first reported According to the news, Harwell has been battling alcohol abuse for years and is in the final stages of liver failure.
According to reports, Harwell was also 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 was dealing with “long-term medical issues.” Smash Mouth will continue to tour, with Zach Goode taking over on lead vocals in 2022.
“Even though Steve has been gone from Smash Mouth for two years now and the band continues to tour with new vocalist Zach Goode, his legacy will live on in music,” the group’s rep told THR on Sunday.
The rep noted that Harwell-fronted 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 was also featured in the Shrek feature film franchise.
Among the songs 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 “I am a believer” by the Monkees.
“Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices of his generation,” said his rep THR on Sunday. “Steve loved the fans and loved performing.”
Upon his retirement, Harwell said in a statement, “Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of being a rock star performing to sold-out arenas and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream come true. It has been an honor for my bandmates to perform with you all these years and I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have been on this wild journey with.”
Smash Mouth’s most recent studio album is Magicreleased in 2021. They also released an acoustic version of their debut, Fush Yu Mang, in 2018.
Amid the news of Harwell’s health, his representative asked “that people respect Steve and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
