The music world fell silent after it was announced that Steve Harwell, former lead singer of Smash Mouth, passed away on September 4, 2023. Over the weekend, the singer’s fans were worried about his serious health condition and reports assured that it would be his last days of life.
TMZ reported that the musician, founder of the band known for the Shrek soundtrack, was able to say goodbye to his family at home.
What Was Steve Harwell’s Illness?
At 56 years old, Steve Harwell reached the most critical point after several years of fighting alcohol abuse and liver failure; unfortunately, there was nothing to do to keep him alive. In 2021, his health showed major health problems, and his fans were concerned after he appeared in terrible condition during a performance in New York.
Some videos showed the vocalist slurring his words, disoriented, and with an overly aggressive attitude toward the audience, and some fans claimed that he gave a Nazi salute. As a result of his attitude, a band representative said what we all feared: “Steve Harwell was struggling with addiction issues that triggered a heart condition and Wernicke’s encephalopathy.”
Wernickes encephalopathy is a serious brain disorder that is almost always related to chronic alcohol abuse. In Harwell’s case, these conditions affected his brain and motor skills.
Steve Harwell Said Goodbye to Smash Mouth
In 2021, Steve announced that he was retiring from Smash Mouth with an emotional statement issued by TMZ, which broke everyone’s heart: “Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a rockstar performing in front of sold-out stadiums, and I have been very fortunate to live that dream.”
Steve thanked his bandmates for their support and apologized to his fans for not being able to overcome his problems and having to leave the band.
This story was written in Spanish by Nayeli Párraga in Cultura Colectiva