Smash Mouth Vocalist Steve Harwell Passes Away at 56
Smash Mouth, “Astro Lounge” album cover – Steve Harwell passes away – Story by Charles Ken, cover art via Interscope
Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell passes away at 56
Steve Harwell, the original frontman of Smash Mouth, has passed away. He was 56. Recently, news broke that Harwell was entering hospice. Shortly thereafter, Harwell’s manager, Robert Hayes, confirmed the news of his death to Rolling Stone.
According to Hayes (via Rolling Stone), Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably.” Hayes told Rolling Stone that the cause of death was liver failure.
Hayes also issued a lengthy statement to Rolling Stone regarding Harwell’s passing. In it, he says that Harwell had retired from Smash Mouth two years ago, and the band is currently touring with new vocalist Zach Goode. Hayes adds that, “Steve’s legacy will live on through the music.” He adds that with Harwell, “Smash Mouth has sold over 10 Million albums worldwide-wide and topped the charts with two #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 in ‘Shrek.'”
Harwell and Smash Mouth topped the charts with their 1999 smash hit, “All Star.” Moreover, the song was nominated for the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. In their career, Smash Mouth released seven full-length album, from 1997 to 2012.
Harwell started having health problems several years ago. Doctors diagnosed him with cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease, and Wernicke encephalopathy.
Smash Mouth shared the sad news on social media, stating, “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 added that Harawell’s “only tools were his irrepressible charm and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition, and his king-size cajones.”
Harwell is the second major musician to pass away over Labor Day weekend. Earlier in the weekend, legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away at 76.
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