California-native Steve Harwell, lead singer of the media-loved band Smash Mouth, unfortunately passed away on September fourth of this year, not long after Jimmy “Margaritaville” Buffet. Medical records claim he died from health issues regarding his liver. Most of the younger generations remember his hit “All Star ” when it was repolarized in the 2001 movie, Shrek- it became a classic “meme” song along with Shrek himself. However, people who knew Smash Mouth before being Shrekified know them for songs like “Walkin’ On the Sun”, “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby”, and “Come On, Come On”, which are some of the band’s musical gems.
Before his time in Smash Mouth, he was in the rapping band Freedom of Speech (F.O.S.), until he was inspired by Dr. Dre and left the group due to the changing rap genre. In his life he performed on stage with his fellow band members, had a cameo in the obscure 2001 film “Rat Race”, and was a cast member in the sixth season of VH1’s reality show The Surreal Life. Despite his successes, his hardships were a deep shadow that followed him for his last years. He suffered from alcoholism that led to liver failure, and had instances where he appeared intoxicated on stage and made controversial claims. On August 27, 2016, he collapsed on stage during a show in Urbana, Illinois, and in October of 2021, he threatened audience members and did what was assumed to be a Nazi salute.
His health issues closed his career in 2021 when he announced retirement and in 2023 they ultimately took his life. Harwell was described by his manager, Robert Hayes, to have “. . . lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out”.
