The 56-year-old former frontman of Smash Mouth, known for hits such as “All Star,” is in the final stage of liver failure, the band’s manager confirmed.
Not entirely unexpected; his health has made the news quite a lot. Unexpected, however, that it'd be so soon.
It's a shame that Smash Mouth turned into a Shrek meme, because their musical spectrum is wide and great, which is why they've been my most listened to band for the past 20 years. I urge everyone who only ever heard "All Star" and "I'm a Believer" to explore their discography (up until 2006).
Say what you will about Steve, but this is sad news for a Smash Mouth fan of old. Greg Camp made Smash Mouth, but Steve gave it a voice.
The lyrics to some of their songs will hit harder from now on. "Fallen Horses" will never be the same again.
Edit: And there it is. He’s passed already, hopefully reunited with his son. RIP, Steve. You’ll forever be an All Star.
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Steve Harwell, the former lead vocalist of rock band Smash Mouth, is in hospice care with only a “short time” left, a representative for the group confirmed to The Washington Post on Sunday.
The 56-year-old is in the final stage of liver failure and is resting at home while being cared for by his fiancée, according to the band’s manager, Robert Hayes.
Harwell announced his retirement in October 2021 to focus on his physical and mental health after an unruly performance in Upstate New York, videos of which show him in an apparently disoriented state.
He struggled with several types of addiction over the years that led to health complications — including cardiomyopathy, which results from a weakening of the heart muscle — that affected his speech and memory, according to Hayes.
Smash Mouth was formed in the early 1990s and gained international fame in the later part of the decade for hits including “Walkin’ on the Sun” (1997) and “All Star” (1999), the latter of which appeared on the band’s second studio album, “Astro Lounge,” and ranked on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
The band also contributed to the 2001 animated film “Shrek,” with “All Star” and their cover of the Monkees’ hit “I’m a Believer” appearing on the soundtrack.