Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell, the “All Star” singer of the band widespread within the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s, has died. He was 56.
His dying was confirmed in a statement to Rolling Stone on Monday. Smash Mouth’s supervisor Robert Hayes mentioned he “handed peacefully and comfortably” at residence in Boise, Idaho “surrounded by buddies and household.”
“Steve Harwell was a real American Original,” the assertion learn. “A bigger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle. Steve must be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned willpower to achieve the heights of pop stardom. And the truth that he achieved this near-impossible aim with very restricted musical expertise makes his accomplishments all of the extra outstanding.”
“His solely instruments have been his irrepressible appeal and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition, and his king-size cajones. Steve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly throughout the universe earlier than burning out.”
A reason for dying was not given.
The group’s former lead singer was in hospice care and, as TMZ reported, on his “deathbed” on Sunday.
The ex-frontman, who struggled with alcoholism, had suffered liver failure and was informed he solely had days left to stay, his supervisor mentioned.
“Steve is resting at residence being cared for by his fiancé and hospice care,” Hayes told People.
Harwell’s household and buddies reportedly visited him at residence the place he was in hospice, the supervisor mentioned, after his liver illness progressed too far.
“Even although Steve has not been with Smash Mouth for two years now, and the band continues to tour with new vocalist Zach Goode, his legacy will stay on by the music,” he added.
Two years in the past, Harwell announced his retirement from the band which fashioned in San Jose, Calif. the Nineteen Nineties and churned out hits together with “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby,” “Walkin’ on the Sun” and a canopy of the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” — lots of which have been featured within the film “Shrek.”
“Ever since I used to be a child, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in entrance of sold-out arenas and have been so lucky to stay out that dream,” Harwell mentioned at the time. “To my bandmates, it’s been an honor performing with you all these years and I can’t consider anybody else I might have reasonably gone on this wild journey with.”
“To our loyal and wonderful followers, thanks, all of this was potential due to you,” he added. “I’ve tried so exhausting to energy by my bodily and psychological well being points, and to play in entrance of you one final time, however I simply wasn’t in a position to.”
Harwell’s departure got here after an incident in 2021 in which the singer was caught on camera at the Big Sip beer fest in Bethel, NY slurring his phrases, threatening the viewers and seemingly giving a Nazi salute to the group.
Reps for Smash Mouth informed The Post at the time that he would retire after the incident, which was associated to “long-term medical points” and Hawell had “suffered quite a few signs instantly linked along with his present medical scenario.”
Harwell reportedly harbored “a number of kinds of dependancy resulting in medical and psychological well being points,” his rep mentioned. He was recognized with cardiomyopathy eight years previous to the incident and has suffered from coronary heart failure. The Cleveland Clinic notes that cardiomyopathy typically stems from “long-term heavy alcohol use.”
As Hayes identified in a press release on Monday, throughout Harwell’s tenure with Smashmouth, the band “offered over 10 Million albums worldwide and topped the charts with two #1 hit singles, 5 Top 40 singles, three Hot 100 singles, 4 Billboard 200 albums and a Grammy nomination.”
Of course, “All Star” was an earworm that dominated the radio in 1999, and turned Smash Mouth’s greatest smash.
“The tune simply gained’t go away as a result of it’s simply a type of songs,” Harwell told Rolling Stone. “It’s like f–king Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ It’s like f–kin’ Lynyrd Skynyrd. You have sure songs that bands make that simply don’t go away. We have been blessed with that, and it was ‘All Star.’”
“Steve’s iconic voice is among the most recognizable voices from his technology,” he added. “Steve cherished the followers and cherished to carry out.”
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