Steve Harwell, the lead singer of 90s pop-punk band Smash Mouth, has died at the age of 56. The singer’s death was announced on Monday, just a day after it was announced that Steve had entered hospice care due to years of alcohol abuse.
Robert Hayes, Harwell’s manager, issued a statement to DailyMail that said the singer passed away “peacefully and comfortably” surrounded by friends and family.
Harwell had been in the final stages of liver failure when he was moved to hospice care. He was being cared for at the time of his death by his fiancée, Annette Jones.
Harwell’s former bandmates and fans have been offering their condolences and paying tribute to the late singer, known for his “irrepressible charm and charisma” and his “fearlessly reckless ambition.”
Formed in 1994, Smash Mouth provided a stellar soundtrack for the 2001 hit movie Shrek, which featured their songs All-Star and Harwell’s cover of I’m a Believer. The animated hit was a family favorite, and the band quickly took flight.
Smash Mouth had two number-one hit singles, earned a Grammy nomination, and sold over 10 million albums worldwide. Harwell retired from performing in 2021 due to health problems linked to alcohol abuse, with his manager Robert Hayes revealing he was diagnosed with Wenicke encephalopathy and cardiomyopathy.
Harwell had been previously involved in some high-profile controversies, such as an allegedly drunken performance in 2021 that led to his retirement, and a packed gig that was subject to criticism during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in August 2020.
The singer’s passion for music began at an early age, and his remarkable achievements have made him an enduring icon of pop stardom.
“His legacy will live on through the music,” Hayes said, adding that the group will continue touring under new vocalist Zach Goode.
At the time of his death, Harwell had close to a billion streams on Spotify due to the use of his song All-Star in the opening scene of Shrek. For this, the song has since become a popular source for internet memes and covers.
The late singer was quoted by Polygon as saying in 2017: “At first it was weird and we were a bit guarded and resistant but as we dove into it more… we started getting into it.”
Harwell is survived by his fiancée Annette Jones, who was caring for him in his final days.
Fans are mourning the loss of a beloved icon in the pop-punk music scene, who will long be remembered for his achievements and his larger-than-life character.
