Steve Harwell, who was the lead singer for Smash Mouth for over two decades on hits like “All Star” and “Walking on the Sun,” has died age 56.
The band’s manager Robert Hayes said that Harwell died at his home in Boise, Idaho surrounded by family and friends.” He said that Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably.”
TMZ reported on Sunday that Harwell had entered hospice for liver failure.
Harwell retired from Smash Mouth in 2021 due to health issues. The band posted on its Instagram that “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...”
The post also said, “Steve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out.”
Harwell was born in Santa Clara, California on January 9, 1967. He formed Smash Mouth with bassist Paul De Lisle, guitarist Greg Camp, and drummer Kevin Coleman before signing a contract with Interscope Records in 1997. The band’s debut, Fush Yu Mang contained “Walking on the Sun.” The band’s second album, Astro Lounge, was released in 1999 featured the iconic hit “All Star” that cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band also covered “I’m a Believer” for the Shrek movie in 2001.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]