Steve Harwell, the lead singer of Smash Mouth, dies at age 56

Smash Mouth, a Grammy-nominated pop rock band, has lost its longtime leader Steve Harwell. He was 56. Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably” on Monday morning at his home in Boise, Idaho, according to the band’s manager, Robert Hayes. According to a statement from Hayes, acute liver failure was the cause of death.

A real American Original, Steve Harwell was. A larger-than-life figure that rose into the sky like a Roman flame, according to Hayes. For his unwavering focus and passionate drive to attain the pinnacles of pop glory, Steve should be recognized.

Steve Harwell

California-native Harwell, who was born in 1967, sang with the rap group F.O.S. (Freedom of Speech) before starting Smash Mouth in 1994. The trio had hit singles including “All star” and “Then the morning comes.”

It recorded two platinum albums on Interscope Records, “Fush Yu Mang” (a 1997 album with heavy ska influences) and “Astro Lounge” (a 1999 album). Some of the band’s biggest songs were included on their second album, including the Grammy-nominated, platinum single “All Star,” which was featured in the animated film “Shrek” with their cover of the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer.”

Smash Mouth’s success was largely due to humor, and Harwell’s lighthearted alt-rock voice and character were at the center of this. He appeared in the 2001 comedy “Rat Race,” and he was acquainted with Guy Fieri, a chef and host on the Food Network.

His sole weapons were his unstoppable charisma, wild ambition, and king-sized cajones, according to Hayes. “Steve led a life that was 100% full-throttle. before going out in all directions, flaming brightly. He will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

After Zach Goode replaced Harwell as the lead singer of Smash Mouth in 2021, the band went on tour. When Harwell passed away, the band said in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy eight years. Previously and had experienced “nonstop serious medical setbacks, including heart failure and acute Wernicke Encephalopathy.”