Former Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell has died, a consultant for the band confirms to Billboard.
Harwell, who carried out as lead vocalist for the California pop-rock act till saying his retirement from the group in 2021, handed away Monday (Sept. 4) at his dwelling in Boise, Idaho, after being in hospice care. He was 56.
“Steve Harwell handed away this morning September 4, 2023 at his dwelling in Boise Idaho. He was surrounded by household and pals and handed peacefully and comfortably,” reads an announcement supplied by Smash Mouth supervisor Robert Hayes.
“Steve Harwell was a real American authentic. A bigger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle. Steve needs to 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 objective with very restricted musical expertise makes his accomplishments all of the extra exceptional,” the assertion continues.
“His solely instruments had been his irrepressible attraction 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. Good night time Heevo Veev. Relaxation in peace figuring out you aimed for the celebrities, and magically hit your goal.”
Main as much as his loss of life, Harwell was being cared for at dwelling by his fiancé and hospice care. TMZ first wrote of the musician’s present well being standing earlier on Sunday (Sept. 3), reporting that he’s reached the ultimate stage of liver failure.
Harwell was recognized with cardiomyopathy, a illness of the guts muscle that may makes it onerous for the guts to ship blood to the physique, a number of years in the past. Following his preliminary analysis, he suffered from “nonstop critical medical setbacks together with coronary heart failure in addition to acute Wernicke Encephalopathy,” a situation that tremendously impacted his motor capabilities, together with speech and impaired reminiscence, an announcement stated in 2021.
Harwell shared the information that he was retiring from the “All Star” group because of his ongoing well being points in October 2021.
Harwell’s remark about retiring from Smash Mouth learn: “Ever since I used to be a child, I dreamed of being a rock star performing in entrance of sold-out arenas and have been so lucky to dwell out that dream. To my bandmates, it’s been an honor performing with you all these years and I can’t consider anybody else I’d have reasonably gone on this wild journey with.”
Smash Mouth fashioned in 1994 in San Jose, Calif., consisting of members Harwell, guitarist Greg Camp, bassist Paul De Lisle and drummer Kevin Coleman. The band’s first single was 1997’s “Walkin’ on the Solar,” and so they landed a prime 10 hit on the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart with the earworm “All Star,” which peaked at No. 4 on the chart in 1999. Astro Lounge, Smash Mouth’s sophomore album that included “All Star,” reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart that yr. “All Star” was nominated for greatest pop efficiency by a duo or group with vocals on the Grammy Awards in 2000, an award that finally went to Santana for “Maria Maria.” The tune loved new recognition after being featured within the Academy Award-winning animated movie Shrek from 2001.
Elsewhere on the charts, Smash Mouth rang up 5 hits on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart, together with three prime 10s: its debut entry “Walkin’ on the Solar” (No. 2 peak, 1998), “All Star” (No. 1, for 5 weeks, 1999) and “Then the Morning Comes” (No. 8, 2000). The band additionally scored with “Can’t Get Sufficient of You Child” (No. 27, 1998) and its cowl of The Monkees’ Neil Diamond-written traditional “I’m a Believer” (No. 24, 2001), from Shrek. Plus, “Walkin’ on the Solar” topped the Grownup Pop Airplay and Various Airplay charts and “All Star” dominated Pop Airplay and Grownup Pop Airplay.
On the Billboard 200, Smash Mouth has charted 5 albums. After its first entry, Fush Yu Mang, hit No. 19 in 1998, the group reached the highest 10 with Astro Lounge. The band has offered 6.4 million albums within the U.S. up to now, in response to Luminate.
Smash Mouth’s most up-to-date album is 2012’s Magic, although they launched an acoustic model of debut set Fush Yu Mang in 2018, following the twentieth anniversary of the unique recording’s launch.
Smash Mouth continues to tour with vocalist Zach Goode, who joined the band in 2022.
