The former lead singer of Smash Mouth has passed away of liver failure at age 56

The former lead singer of Smash Mouth has passed away of liver failure at age 56

Steve Harwell, the ex-frontman of the renowned American pop-rock group Smash Mouth, has passed away at the age of 56. This sad news was confirmed by his manager, Robert Hayes, in an interview with Rolling Stone. Hayes conveyed that Harwell’s departure occurred peacefully, with the comforting presence of family and friends. In his statement, Hayes emphasized the iconic nature of Steve’s voice, noting that it was one of the most distinct and memorable voices of his era. He also mentioned Steve’s deep affection for his fans and his passion for live performances. Ultimately, Hayes described Steve Harwell’s life as a blazing journey, marked by a bright and intense presence that spanned the cosmos before coming to a close

Five key facts about Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell:

1. Early Rap Career: Before becoming a part of Smash Mouth, Steve Harwell explored a career in rap using the alias F.O.S., which stood for Freedom of Speech. In 1993, he released a song titled “Big Black Boots,” influenced by Chuck D. Harwell revealed in a 2017 Stereogum interview that Snoop Dogg’s emergence in the early 1990s inspired him to change his musical direction. He said, “Snoop Dogg’s arrival changed everything. I was at a radio convention in Las Vegas, watching MC Hammer, and I turned to my manager and said, ‘I’m tired of all this hip-hop; I want to form an alternative rock band.'”
2. Co-Founder of Smash Mouth: Born in California in 1967, Steve Harwell co-founded Smash Mouth in 1994. He met two fellow musicians in San Jose through his manager and close friend, Kevin Coleman. While the band was still unsigned, they had a breakthrough in 1996 when their song “Nervous in the Alley” was featured on a local radio station. Record labels quickly noticed them, leading to a deal with Interscope and the release of their debut album, “Fush Yu Mang,” in 1997. Their hit “Walkin’ on the Sun” topped the Billboard Modern Rock Charts and the UK Top 20.
3. Personal Life: Steve Harwell kept much of his personal life private. In the early 2000s, he was married to Michelle Laroque, although details about their relationship and divorce are not widely known. His ex-fiancée, Esther Campbell, obtained a restraining order against him in 2020. During his marriage to Michelle, the couple had a child named Presley Scott, who tragically passed away from leukemia at the age of 8 months in 2001.
4. Long Tenure as Lead Vocalist: Steve Harwell served as the lead vocalist of Smash Mouth for an impressive 27 years. He contributed his distinctive vocals to hits like “Walking On The Sun” from their debut album and “All Star” from their second album, “Astro Lounge.” The band also recorded cover songs, such as War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and The Monkees’ “I’m A Believer,” prominently featured on the Shrek soundtrack. In 2018, the band released an acoustic re-recording of their debut album, and their last full-length studio album, “Magic,” came out in 2012.
5. Reality Television Appearances: In addition to his music career, Steve Harwell made appearances in reality television. He featured on an episode of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” in 2019. One of his most notable reality show appearances was in 2006 when he participated in the sixth and final season of VH1’s “The Surreal Life.” He shared the screen with notable figures like C.C. DeVille, Alexis Arquette, Sherman Hemsley, Maven Huffman, and models Andrea Lowell and Tawny Kitaen.

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