West News Wire: Smash Mouth’s former lead singer, Steve Harwell, passed away on Monday, the rock group confirmed. He was 56.
Harwell’s passing was reported by Smash Mouth on Instagram with the phrase “true American Original.”
Smash Mouth described the figure as “a larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle.” For his unwavering focus and passionate drive to attain the pinnacles of pop glory, Steve should be recognised.
The piece went on to say that the feats were all the more impressive because “he achieved this nearly impossible goal with very little musical experience.” “His sole tools were his king-sized cajones, his daring, reckless ambition, and his irresistible charm and charisma. Steve led an entirely full-throttle existence. brilliantly blazing throughout the cosmos before going dark.”
Harwell died “peacefully and comfortably” at his home in Boise, Idaho, Monday morning while surrounded by family and friends, the band said in a statement. An official cause of death has not been announced.
Before his retirement in 2021, Harwell was a founding member of Smash Mouth and served as their frontman for the songs “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star.”
With their 1999 triple-platinum album “Astro Lounge” and its single, “All Star,” the trio broke even bigger than they had with their 1997 double-platinum album “Fush Yu Mang,” which produced the single “Walkin’ on the Sun.”
Smash Mouth’s “All Star” achieved a career-high position of No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is most known for being included on the soundtrack to the 2001 animated movie “Shrek.” Smash Mouth also sang “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees for Shrek, and the band has been indelibly linked to the film ever since it came out.
Smash Mouth’s mainstream appeal started to decline after “Astro Lounge” and “Shrek,” despite the band’s continuing touring. Later tours, however, were tarnished by strange situations, including in 2015 when Harwell started yelling at the crowd when they allegedly hurled bread at him.
Then, during a 2021 performance, Harwell was caught on camera swearing at the audience and stumbling over his words. Shortly after, Harwell announced his retirement from touring, claiming how his cardiomyopathy heart disease had negatively affected his health.
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar and performing in front of sold-out arenas, and I have been so fortunate to live out that dream,” Harwell said at the time, according to TMZ.
Smash Mouth has continued on with a new lead singer, Zach Goode.
