Former Smash Mouth Frontman Steve Harwell Dies At 56
Image Source: CNN
Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of the popular 2000s band Smash Mouth, passed away on September 4th at the age of 56 from liver failure. The singer was known for singing the band’s hits such as “All Star” and their cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer,” both of which were featured in the 2001 animated film, Shrek.
Harwell was born on January 9th, 1965, in Santa Clara, California. He was initially a rapper in the group FOS (Freedom of Speech) but left the project in 1992 after realizing the genre was changing. In 1994, he formed Smash Mouth with Greg Camp, Kevin Coleman, and Paul De Lisle. The group first achieved success in 1997 with “Walking on Sun.” Their 1999 single, “All Star,” reached number 10 on the charts and regained its popularity in 2001 when it was featured in Shrek. Harwell would continue to produce music and tour with the group throughout the new millennium, but incidents began occurring during concerts due to the singer’s addictions.
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In August 2016 at a concert in Urbana, Illinois, he collapsed on stage and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The rest of the band continued the concert without him. The band headlined the Sturgis Motorcycle in August 2020, and though a concert during the peak of the pandemic was already an issue, Harwell perhaps dug the knife in deeper by declaring "Now we're all here together tonight. And we're being human once again. Fuck that COVID shit.” However, perhaps the most controversial of these incidents was when the band performed at a beer and wine festival at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York in October 2021. At this concert, Harwell appeared to be intoxicated, and he threatened audience members and performed what looked like a Nazi salute. This incident caused him to retire from the group due to health issues.
Steve Harwell passed away in hospice care surrounded by his family. Smash Mouth honors his legacy as they continue to tour with new frontman Zach Goode, who stepped in after the singer retired in 2021. Rest easy, Steve Harwell. Now, you’re really an All Star.
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