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Steve Harwell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve Harwell
Harwell in 2013
Born
Steven Scott Harwell

(1967-01-09)January 9, 1967
Santa Clara, California,U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 2023(2023-09-04)(aged 56)
Boise, Idaho,U.S.
Resting placeLos Gatos Memorial Park
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
Years active1987–2021
Spouse
Michelle Laroque
​
​
(m.2000;div.2019)​
Children1
Musical career
OriginSan Jose, California,U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • keyboards
Formerly ofSmash Mouth

Steven Scott Harwell(January 9, 1967 – September 4, 2023) was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist and frontman for the rock bandSmash Mouthfrom its formation in 1994 until his retirement in 2021.[1][2][3]Their songs include "Walkin' on the Sun"and"All Star".

Career

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Harwell was initially a rapper in the group F.O.S.[4](Freedom of Speech).[5]He abandoned thePublic Enemy–influenced project upon hearingDr. Dre's 1992 albumThe Chronicand realizing that the genre was changing.[6]

Greg Campformed Smash Mouth in 1994 with Harwell,Kevin Coleman,andPaul De Lisle.They first achieved success with their 1997 song "Walkin' on the Sun".[7]The band's 1999 song "All Star"reached the top 10 in the United States, and it regained popularity after being featured in the 2001 filmShrek.[8]

Harwell was a featured cast member in the sixth season of theVH1reality showThe Surreal Lifein 2006.[9]He appeared on othertelevisionandradioshows[10]as well as making a cameo in the 2001 filmRat Race.[11]He performed two songs, "Beside Myself" and "Everything Just Crazy",[citation needed]for the 2013 South Korean–Chinese animated filmPororo, The Racing Adventure.[12]

During a Smash Mouth concert inUrbana, Illinois,on August 27, 2016, Harwell collapsed on stage and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. The band completed the show without him, De Lisle singing in his place.[13][14]In August 2020, the band headlined at theSturgis Motorcycle RallyinSouth Dakota,with Harwell declaring "Now we're all here together tonight. And we're being human once again. Fuck thatCOVIDshit "; the event was later classed as asuperspreading eventby theNational Institutes of Health.[15]

In October 2021, the band performed at a beer and wine festival atBethel Woods Center for the ArtsinBethel, New York,where he appeared to be intoxicated, threatening audience members and performing what looked like aNazi salute.[16][17]He then announced his retirement due to ongoing health issues,[18]and was replaced byZach Goode.[19]

Personal life

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Harwell was married to Michelle Laroque, but they divorced.[20]Together, they had a son named Presley, who died aged six months in July 2001 fromacute lymphocytic leukemiaand inspired the name of his father's disease prevention fund, the Presley Scott Research Foundation for Leukemia.[21][22]

Illness and death

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Throughout most of his life, Harwell struggled withalcoholismwhich was exacerbated by the death of his son. At times he performed heavily intoxicated.[23][6]In 2013, he was diagnosed withcardiomyopathyandWernicke encephalopathy,which can impair speech and memory. He was hospitalized in 2017 for cardiomyopathy, leading to the cancellation of a show.[24]He retired in 2021 as these health problems hindered his ability to perform.[25]

Harwell died at his home inBoise, Idaho,on September 4, 2023,[26][27]one day after his manager, Robert Hayes, announced Harwell was inhospicefor final-stageliver failure.[28][29][30]

References

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  1. ^"Steve Harwell".AllMusic.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  2. ^"Steve Harwell".BBC.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  3. ^"Interview with Steve Harwell".Nyrock. November 1997. Archived fromthe originalon December 27, 2014.
  4. ^"Q&A: Steve Harwell On 20 Years Of Smash Mouth And Coming To Terms With All Those" All Star "Memes".Stereogum.July 7, 2017.RetrievedJuly 22,2018.
  5. ^Legaspi, Althea (September 4, 2023)."Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth Founding Singer, Dead at 56".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 5,2023.
  6. ^ab"Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell dies at 56".BBC News.September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  7. ^Moses, Claire; Sisario, Ben (September 4, 2023)."Steve Harwell, Former Smash Mouth Lead Singer, Dies at 56".The New York Times.
  8. ^"Steve Harwell, founding member of Smash Mouth, dies aged 56".The Independent.September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  9. ^Wilkes, Neil (September 21, 2005)."New 'Surreal Life' cast named".Digital Spy.RetrievedJuly 9,2013.
  10. ^"Steve Harwell - Rotten Tomatoes".rottentomatoes.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  11. ^"Steve Harwell, former Smash Mouth lead singer, dead at 56".CBC News.September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
  12. ^"Steve Harwell: The Smash Mouth frontman known for 'All Star' and 'Walkin' on the Sun'".The Independent.September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
  13. ^Helman, Peter (August 28, 2016)."Smash Mouth Singer Leaves Stage In An Ambulance, Band Plays" All Star "Without Him".Stereogum.RetrievedSeptember 3,2023.
  14. ^Verhoeven, Beatrice (August 29, 2016)."Smash Mouth Frontman Steve Harwell Collapses During Concert".TheWrap.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  15. ^Dave, Dhaval; McNichols, Drew; Sabia, Joseph J. (2021)."The contagion externality of a superspreading event: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19".Southern Economic Journal.87(3): 769–807.doi:10.1002/soej.12475.ISSN0038-4038.PMC7753804.PMID33362303.
  16. ^Barton, Monika (October 12, 2021)."Smash Mouth singer accused of doing Nazi salute in shocking footage from 'chaotic' gig".Newshub.
  17. ^Brown, August (October 11, 2021)."Smash Mouth singer slurs words, curses fans at 'chaotic' live show".Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^"Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell retires after disoriented New York concert".NBC News.October 12, 2021.RetrievedOctober 12,2021.
  19. ^Johnson, Josh (March 2, 2022)."Smash Mouth introduces new singer, Zach Goode; releases" Never Gonna Give You Up "cover".ABC Audio.
  20. ^Yasmine Leung l (September 4, 2023)."Smash Mouth fights childhood leukemia".HITC.RetrievedNovember 15,2023.
  21. ^Slaughter, Adele (July 22, 2002)."Smash Mouth fights childhood leukemia".USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon September 12, 2005.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  22. ^"THE PRESLEY SCOTT RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR LEUKEMIA".OpenCorporates.RetrievedApril 21,2024.
  23. ^"Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell dies at 56".September 4, 2023.RetrievedApril 21,2024.
  24. ^Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell Rushed to Hospital, Band Cancels ConcertKTVB
  25. ^Kaufman, Gil (October 12, 2021)."Smash Mouth Singer Steve Harwell Retires, Citing Ongoing Health Issues".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  26. ^Moniuszko, Sara (September 5, 2023)."What to know about acute liver failure, Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth's cause of death".CBS News.RetrievedApril 27,2024.
  27. ^"Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth Founding Singer, Dead at 56".Rolling Stone. September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  28. ^Chasan, Aliza (September 3, 2023)."Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell in hospice care, representative says".CBS News.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  29. ^Zhan, Jennifer (September 3, 2023)."Steve Harwell Is Reportedly in Hospice Care for Liver Failure".New York Magazine.RetrievedSeptember 3,2023.
  30. ^"Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell dies at 56".BBC News.September 4, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
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