Smash Mouth Singer Steve Harwell Dies At 56
Steve Harwell, the former singer of pop-rock band Smash Mouth, has died at the age of 56, according to The New York Times. The band’s biggest hits included “All Star,” “Walkin’ On The Sun” and their cover of the Monkees’ “I’m A Believer.”
The band posted the sad news to their social media accounts: “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. 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% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out. Good night Heevo Veev. Rest in peace knowing you aimed for the stars, and magically hit your target.” No cause of death was given.
Smash Mouth’s History
Harwell co-founded the band in 1994 in San Jose, California with drummer Kevin Coleman, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle. Their debut album, Fush Yu Mang, was released in 1997. The frontman left the band in 2021. According to The New York Post, his final show on October 9 of that year with the band was “chaotic,” and included an onstage rant. Harwell’s rep told The New York Post that “Steve has been dealing with long-term medical issues over the last eight years and during his last performance… he suffered numerous symptoms directly linked with his current medical situation. As of today, Steve will be retiring from Smash Mouth to focus on his physical and mental health.” He was replaced by singer Zach Goode; the band has a number of shows scheduled in the next few weeks.
Smash Mouth will forever be remembered for “All Star,” which was used in the cult film Mystery Men, and also in the hit film Shrek. It was also the source of countless memes and online parodies.
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