LOS ANGELES — Steve Harwell, the longtime frontman of the Grammy-nominated pop rock band Smash Mouth that was behind the megahit \u201cAll Star\u201d has died. He was 56.<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s manager, Robert Hayes, said Harwell \u201cpassed peacefully and comfortably\u201d Monday morning surrounded by family and friends at his home in Boise, Idaho. The cause of death was acute liver failure, Hayes said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Smash Mouth is also known for hits including \u201cWalkin\u2019 on the Sun\u201d and \u201cThen The Morning Comes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSteve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle,\u201d Hayes said. \u201cSteve should be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis only tools were his irrepressible charm and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition,\u201d Hayes said, adding: \u201cSteve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Born in California in 1967, Harwell performed in a rap group called F.O.S. (Freedom of Speech) before forming Smash Mouth in 1994. The band released two platinum albums on Interscope Records, their ska-fueled 1997 debut and 1999\u2019s \u201cAstro Lounge.\u201d The second album featured some of the band\u2019s biggest hits, including the Grammy-nominated, platinum single \u201cAll Star,\u201d which appeared in the movie \u201cShrek\u201d alongside their cover of the Monkees\u2019 \u201cI\u2019m a Believer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Humor was a driving force behind Smash Mouth\u2019s success, and at the forefront was Harwell\u2019s playful alt-rock voice and persona. He made a cameo in 2001 comedy film \u201cRat Race,\u201d and had a well-documented friendship with the Food Network chef and host Guy Fieri.<\/p>\n
On Monday, tributes began pouring in. Fieri wrote on Instagram: \u201cTo my brutha Steve RIP. Today is a sad day, I will miss my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
NSYNC \u2018s Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone also shared short homages.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m truly sorry for the difficult battle you had to fight,\u201d Kirkpatrick posted on Instagram. \u201cYou were an amazing soul and will be deeply missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fatone said he had known Harwell for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpened for NSync and even was my wedding singer at my wedding,\u201d wrote Fatone. \u201cHopefully people out there that are dealing with addiction. get the right help that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u201d host Carson Daly published a two-part statement on Instagram, detailing the first time he met Harwell in 1995, when he was a DJ on JOME in San Jose and Smash Mouth was a new band.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn better days, Steve was a force of a frontman & lived the life of 50 men,\u201d Daly wrote. \u201cHe brought joy to millions with his music and his legacy will thankfully live on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRest in peace Steve Harwell,\u201d comedian Tom Green tweeted. \u201cI remember hanging with you back in the MTV days you were always super cool and an amazing talent \u2013 my condolences to your family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harwell retired from performing and left Smash Mouth in 2021. The band continued to tour with Zach Goode as the singer. Smash Mouth released a statement at the time saying Harwell had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy eight years earlier and had suffered \u201cnonstop serious medical setbacks including heart failure as well as acute Wernicke Encephalopathy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hayes had released a statement on Sunday saying Harwell was in hospice care.<\/p>\n
Harwell will be cremated in Boise and buried in San Jose, California, alongside his mother, Hayes said.<\/p>\n