Smash Mouth Lead Singer Steve Harwell Dead at 56
Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth's lead singer, has died. He was just 56.
He passed away earlier today, Sept. 4, at his home in Boise, Idaho, of liver failure, the band's manager, Robert Hayes, confirmed to The New York Times.
Harwell's manager had confirmed to TMZ just yesterday, Sept. 3, that the frontman was in hospice care after reaching the final stage of liver failure caused by alcohol abuse. Before his liver issues, Harwell had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2013.
Harwell started out in the rap group F.O.S. (Freedom of Speech) in the early '90s. He then formed Smash Mouth in 1994, alongside guitarist/main songwriter Greg Camp, drummer Kevin Coleman, and bassist Paul De Lisle.
Though the band experienced their first hit with "Walkin' in the Sun" in 1997, Smash Mouth achieved fame with its smash hit "All Star," which defined the group's career.
The late musician remained in the band until 2021, departing the group after he was filmed at the Big Slip festival in Bethel, New York, where he exhibited alarming behavior. In a TikTok video from the performance, Harwell was filmed cursing at fans, threatening to kill an audience member's "whole family," and appeared to make the Nazi salute at the crowd.
At the time, Smash Mouth's representative told The New York Post, "Steve has been dealing with long-term medical issues over the last 8 years and during his last performance at the Big Sip stage, he suffered numerous symptoms directly linked with his current medical situation. As of today, Steve will be retiring from Smash Mouth to focus on his physical and mental health."