The singer Steve Harwell, founder of the popular music band Smash Mouth, has died this Monday at the age of 56, as confirmed by the representative of the group to Rolling Stone magazine.
Harwell died “comfortably and peacefully” at his home in Boise, Idaho, USA, surrounded by family and friends, the representative said.
Shortly before, it had been known that the artist was receiving palliative care. According to The New York Times, Harwell has died of liver failure.
The singer founded the band Smash Mouth -authors of the mythical song All Star- along with drummer Kevin Colman, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle in California, in 1994. Of the founding members only De Lisle remains. As for Harwell, he retired from the stage in 2021 and is now replaced by singer Zach Goode.
His first success was in 1997 with the song Walkin’ on the Sun. In 1999 they released the album Astro Lounge, whose theme All Star appeared in the opening credits of the animated film Shrek two years later, catapulting the band to stardom.
The group still tours and has released some original songs, but hasn’t released a new album in a decade.
