Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth singer, dead at 56

Last Updated on September 7, 2023

UPDATE: According to THR, Steve Harwell, the former lead singer for the iconic group Smash Mouth, has died. He was only 56. This weekend, it was announced that he was in hospice care following liver failure. The news comes the year after Harwell announced his retirement so he could focus on his ongoing health issues.

As per a representative for Steve Harwell (speaking to THR) “Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. He loved the fans and loved to perform.”

Steve Harwell announced his retirement in 2022 following a series of bizarre situations at a 2021 performance in which the singer was seen slurring his words and berating audience members. He was replaced by Zach Goode.

When announcing his retirement, Steve Harwell issued the following statement: “Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream..To my bandmates, it’s been an honor performing with you all these years and I can’t think of anyone else I would have rather gone on this wild journey with…To our loyal and amazing fans, thank you, all of this was possible because of you. I’ve tried so hard to power through my physical and mental health issues, and to play in front of you one last time, but I just wasn’t able to.”

A decade ago, Steve Harwell, who is now 56, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and Wernicke encephalopathy, a neurological disorder with ties to delirium, lack of coordination and heart issues.

Smash Mouth found massive success in 1997 with their album Fush Yu Mang, led by the single “Walkin’ on the Sun.” They followed that up with 1999’s Astro Lounge, which went triple platinum with songs like “Then the Morning Comes”, “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby” and “All Star”, which went through the roof once more after being featured in Shrek. While the usage became a meme, the band took it in stride, recognizing that people still enjoyed the song and gave them a new audience.

This is, of course, disheartening news for fans of Smash Mouth and Steve Harwell and we here at JoBlo send our thoughts and condolences to the singer’s family. You can leave your own remembrances of jamming to Smash Mouth in the comments section.