Steve Harwell dead at 56: Smash Mouth singer passes away at home surrounded by family and friends a day after revealing he entered hospice following battle with alcohol abuse

Steve Harwell, the lead singer of 90s rockers Smash Mouth, has died at the age of 56, just a day after it was announced that he had entered hospice care as a result of years of alcohol abuse. 

In a statement to Mail Online, Harwell’s manager Robert Hayes said that the singer passed in Boise, Idaho ‘surrounded by family and friends’ and that he died ‘peacefully and comfortably.’ At the time of his death the singer was being cared for by his fiancée Annette Jones. 

The statement described Harwell as ‘iconic’ and credited him as having ‘one of the most recognizable voices from his generation.’

‘He loved the fans and loved to perform. Steve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle,’ the press release continued. 

Although his official cause of death has not been confirmed, Hayes noted on Sunday he was in the final stages of liver failure when he was moved to hospice care.  

‘Steve should be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom. And the fact that he achieved this near-impossible goal with very limited musical experience makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable.’

‘His only tools were his irrepressible charm and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition, and his king-size cajones. Steve lived a 100 percent full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out,’ it concluded. 

Harwell’s official cause of death has not been made public, but it comes two years after the singer retired from performing in 2021 due to a series of alcohol related health issues. 

During an infamous performance in Bethel, New York, Harwell slurred through songs and verbally attacked fans. 

His manager told the New York Post at the time that the singer was diagnosed with Wenicke encephalopathy, a condition that impacts motor skills and brain functionality. 

He also reportedly suffered from cardiomyopathy, where weak heart muscles results in deteriorated speech and memory. 

The band is remembered best for the song All Star which was featured in the 2001 hit movie Shrek

The band is remembered best for the song All Star which was featured in the 2001 hit movie Shrek. Prior to that the band had a hit with the track Walking on the Sun in 1997. 

In a statement released the day before his death, Hayes said the singer was in the final stages of liver failure.

‘Although Steve is here with us still, sadly it will only be for a short time,’ Hayes said in a statement. ‘We would hope people would respect Steve and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.’