Smash Mouth singer retiring due to health issues

Singer suffers from cardiomyopathy

Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell is retiring following a lengthy battle with cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease. Harwell was diagnosed with the disease eight years ago and caused a variety of health setbacks, according to TMZ.

Harwell’s decision follows a video of the band’s performance in upstate New York that went viral due to his behavior on stage that included slurring words, yelling at the audience and being completely disassociated with the event at times.

“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,” he tells TMZ. “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.”

A source close to the band tells TMZ that it’s impossible for Harwell to keep performing as his health deteriorates. Cardiomyopathy affects speech and memory, but Harwell is also known to have suffered from substance abuse over the years.

Neither the band nor Harwell have posted anything on their socials to verify the statement as of press time.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com