Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth, died on September 4, 2023, at the age of 56 due to acute liver failure
. His death occurred at his home in Boise, Idaho, where he was in hospice care and surrounded by family and friends
. Harwell had a long history of health problems related to alcohol abuse, which was a major contributing factor to his liver failure. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (a heart condition) and Wernicke encephalopathy (a neurological disorder often linked to alcohol misuse) in 2013, both of which worsened his health over time
. His manager noted that Harwell lived a "100% full-throttle life" and struggled with addiction throughout his life
. Acute liver failure is a rare but life-threatening condition where the liver rapidly loses its ability to function. It can be caused by various factors including alcohol abuse, overdose of medications like acetaminophen, viral infections, or other underlying diseases
. In Harwell's case, chronic alcohol abuse was a key factor leading to his liver failure
. In summary, Steve Harwell died from acute liver failure, a condition likely exacerbated by his longstanding struggle with alcoholism and related health issues
