Google News 
Steve Harwell, iconic frontman of the celebrated San Jose-based rock band Smash Mouth, tragically passed away on Monday at 56. His dynamic voice and fiery spirit helped shape late ‘90s and early 2000s rock music. The band shared their heartfelt condolences on X (previously Twitter): “Steve Harwell was a quintessential American talent.
His effervescence, reminiscent of a Roman candle, was unmatched. His drive for pop stardom was relentless and he achieved it brilliantly. He aimed for the stars and remarkably, he hit them. Farewell, Steve”. Liver failure claimed Harwell’s life in Boise, Idaho, a detail confirmed by Robert Hayes, the band’s manager, to the New York Times.
In his final days, he was comforted with hospice care provided by his loving fiancée, Annette Jones. Harwell’s musical journey is imprinted in many a memory with chart-toppers like “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “I’m a Believer,” and the ubiquitous “All Star”.
The latter, from their 1999 album “Astro Lounge,” gained further popularity after being prominently featured in DreamWorks’ “Shrek” in 2001. This film, second only to “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in 2001 U.S.
box office earnings, introduced Smash Mouth to younger audiences, a legacy that lives on. Born in January 1967, Harwell co-founded Smash Mouth in 1994. The band's initial spark was ignited when San Jose’s KOME radio station played “Nervous in the Alley”.
This paved their path to Interscope Records and eventual stardom.
Harwell's Personal Struggles and Decline
While their initial albums “Fush Yu Mang” and “Astro Lounge” were massive hits, a shift in musical preferences in the 2000s saw a decline in their mainstream success.
Harwell faced personal and health challenges, including a public breakdown in 2021 during a concert in New York. Following this, he retired from the band to address his mental and physical health issues, including cardiomyopathy and Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
His battle with alcoholism and the heartbreaking loss of his infant son, Presley, in 2001, further impacted his journey. Smash Mouth continues to rock stages, now with Zach Goode as the lead vocalist. Harwell leaves behind his fiancée, Jones; a brother, Mark; and three sisters, Carla Crocker, Michelle Baroni, and Julie Harwell. Further details regarding memorial services remain pending.
