Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth.Photo: Mychal Watts/NFL for ON 3 PRODUCTIONS via Getty
Steve Harwell, the former frontman of Smash Mouth, has died. He was 56.
Smash Mouth paid tribute to their former bandmatevia an Instagram postshortly after his death.
“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,” they wrote.
“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.“The band continued, “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.”
TMZ wasfirst to reportthat the singer was in the final stage of liver failure after previously undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse at a hospital.
A source close to Harwell explained to PEOPLE in 2021 that the musician had “suffered profusely” with addiction over the years, which have led to some of his medical and mental health issues.
“Even though 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 live on through the music,” Hayes told PEOPLE on Sunday.
“With Steve, Smash Mouth has sold over 10 million albums worldwide-wide and topped the charts with two No. 1 hit singles, five Top 40 singles, three Hot 100 singles, four Billboard 200 albums and a Grammy nomination not to mention the hundreds of film and television placements and of course those musical features inShrek.”
“Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. Steve loved the fans and loved to perform,” added Hayes.
Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth.Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
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Before his time in Smash Mouth, Harwell rapped for music group F.O.S. (Freedom of Speech) and released the track “Big Black Boots.”
“Around the time we were about to put out our single, this kidSnoop Doggcame out and changed everything,” Harwell recalled in a 2017 interview withStereo Gum. “I was at a radio convention in Las Vegas watchingMC Hammerof all people, and I just looked at my manager, “I’m tired of all this hip-hop s—, I want to start an alternative rock band.’”
Harwell then formed Smash Mouth with drummer Kevin Coleman, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle in 1994.
In 2006, he joined the cast of season 6 of the VH1 reality showThe Surreal Life, which followed a group of celebrities living together inGlen Campbell’s Hollywood Hills mansion. He also appeared as himself in the 2001 comedyRat Raceand voiced characters in a 2003 episode ofKim Possibleand a 2018 episode ofWe Bare Bears.
Steve Harwell performing with Smash Mouth in May 2014.Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
During the later years of his career, Harwell suffered from several health complications with 2013 diagnoses for cardiomyopathy and Wernicke encephalopathy.
Just a day after an October 2021 performance in New York where the singer exhibited eccentric behavior that a source later explained to PEOPLE was an “episode,” Harwell shared in a statement with PEOPLE that he would beretiring from Smash Mouthdue to his mental and physical health.
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream,” Harwell said at the time. “To my bandmates, it’s been an honor performing with you all these years and I can’t think of anyone else I would have rather gone on this wild journey with.”
“To our loyal and amazing fans, thank you, all of this was possible because of you,” he continued. “I’ve tried so hard to power through my physical and mental health issues, and to play in front of you one last time, but I just wasn’t able to.”
source: people.com
