Former lead singer of the American rock band Smash Mouth, Steve Harwell, has died at the age of 56, per the latest reports.
The singer passed away on September 4, 2023. The band’s longtime manager, Robert Hayes, shared in a statement, “Steve Harwell passed away this morning, Sept. 4, 2023, at his home in Boise, Idaho. He was surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully and comfortably.”
Harwell had been ill for a while and, was in the final stages of liver failure, and was in hospice care.
Smash Mouth frontman Harwell was a founding member and longtime lead singer of Smash Mouth. Born in Santa Clara, California, he formed the band in 1994 with guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle, who had both played in a local punk band. They released their fist album Fush Yu Mang in 1997 and the rest is history.
While the band saw many years of success, Harwell eventually left the band in 2021, citing mental and physical health as the reason for his departure.
What Made Smash Mouth Famous?
The band Smash Mouth had a string of hits in the ’90s and 2000s, with “All Star,” “Walkin’ on the Sun,” and “I’m a Believer.” The songs “All Star” and “I’m a Believer” were also used in DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, making the song even more of a popular bop than it already was at the time.
“All Star” in particular became so popular it was the background and inspiration for many memes, music video compilations, and one fan even made a video of Disney characters singing “All Star.”
Robert Hayes added about the Smash Mouth singer, “Steve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out”.
“Steve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle. Steve should be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom,” Robert Hayes’ statement continued. “And the fact that he achieved this near-impossible goal with very limited musical experience makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable.”
