Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of American pop rock band Smashmouth died at the age of 56.
His death announced by his manager Robert Hayes. Who said in a statement to media that Harwell “passed peacefully and peacefully” with his family and friends by his side.
Hayes added, “Steve’s iconic voice is one of the most recognizable voices of his generation. “He loved the fans and loved performing. Steve lived life 100 percent full throttle. The whole universe is burning brightly before burning.”
Hayes did not reveal the cause of death. But he told TMZ earlier this week that the singer had been suffering from liver failure.
Harwell has faced a number of other health problems in recent years. Since diagnosed in 2013 with heart disease cardiomyopathy and a neurological disorder, acute Werner’s encephalopathy, which affects his speech and memory. He was also prone to alcoholism.
Born in California in 1967, Steve Harwell formed Smashmouth in 1994. After his manager and longtime friend Kevin Coleman introduced him to two other musicians in San Jose.
The foursome had a minor breakout in 1996.
When their song Nervous in the Alley played by a local radio station while the band was unsigned.
Record labels soon showed interest and the group signed with Interscope before releasing their debut album Fush Yu Mang in 1997.
With a distinctive sound that mixes ska, lounge music, psych-pop and more, Harval’s hip-hop-influenced vocals are on top.
Walkin’ on the Sun became their first major hit, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s modern rock charts and the UK Top 20.
Smashmouth’s lead single was All Star from their second album, 1999’s Astro Loung. Which became a huge hit internationally and became the group’s only top 10 appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.
“When Astro Lounge came out, we had a lot of time on the belt touring, getting better,” Harwell told media in 2019.
I was becoming a better singer and our voice started to grow.
In 2021, Harwell announced his retirement after a concert in upstate New York during which he was seen threatening audience members and giving Nazi salutes.
At the time, sources close to the band revealed that Harwell was dealing with a number of health conditions.
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Harwell wrote in a statement in 2021, “I’ve tried so hard to get over my physical and mental health issues and play in front of you one last time, but I just couldn’t.”