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Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell, the “All Star” singer of the band popular in the 1990s and 2000s, has died. He was 56.
His death was confirmed in a statement to Rolling Stone on Monday. Smash Mouth’s manager Robert Hayes said he “passed peacefully and comfortably” at home in Boise, Idaho, “surrounded by friends and family.”
“Steve Harwell was a true American Original,” the statement read. “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. 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 [cojones]. Steve lived a 100 percent full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out.”
A cause of death 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 told he only had days left to live, his manager said.
“Steve is resting at home being cared for by his fiancée and hospice care,” Hayes told People at the time.
Harwell’s family and friends reportedly visited him at home where he was in hospice, the manager said, after his liver disease progressed too far.
“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,” he added.
Two years ago, Harwell announced his retirement from the band, which formed in San Jose, California, in the 1990s and churned out hits including “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby,” “Walkin’ on the Sun” and a cover of the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” — many of which were featured in the 2001 animated movie “Shrek.”
“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 in a statement 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 added. “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.”
Harwell’s departure came after an incident in 2021 in which the singer was caught on camera at the Big Sip wine and spirits fest in Bethel, NY, slurring his words, threatening the audience and seemingly giving a Nazi salute to the crowd.
Reps for Smash Mouth told The Post at the time that he would retire, and the incident was related to “long-term medical issues” and Harwell had “suffered numerous symptoms directly linked with his current medical situation.”
Harwell reportedly harbored “several types of addiction leading to medical and mental health issues,” his rep said. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy eight years prior to the event and has suffered from heart failure. The Cleveland Clinic notes that cardiomyopathy often stems from “long-term heavy alcohol use.”
Harwell started off as a rapper in San Jose with the group F.O.S. (Freedom of Speech) before meeting drummer Kevin Coleman and forming Smash Mouth in 1994 with guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle. Their 1997 debut album “Fush Yu Mang” included their first No. 1 hit, “Walkin’ on the Sun.”
As Hayes pointed out in a statement on Monday, during Harwell’s tenure with Smash Mouth, the band “sold over 10 million albums worldwide 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.”
Of course, “All Star” was an earworm that dominated the radio in 1999, and became Smash Mouth’s biggest smash.
“The song just won’t go away because it’s just one of those songs,” Harwell told Rolling Stone. “It’s like f – – king Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ It’s like f – – kin’ Lynyrd Skynyrd. You have certain songs that bands make that just don’t go away. We were blessed with that, and it was ‘All Star.’ ”
“Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation,” Hayes said.
“Steve loved the fans and loved to perform.”
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