Steve Harwell, the former lead singer of Smash Mouth, has passed away at the age of 56.

Steve Harwell, the former lead singer and frontman of the rock band Smash Mouth, has passed away at the age of 56 in his residence in Boise, Idaho.

The news of his demise was confirmed by the band's manager, Robert Hayes, who disclosed that the cause of death was acute liver failure. Hayes added that Harwell was in the company of family and friends when he peacefully and comfortably departed.

In 1994, Harwell founded Smash Mouth, a band that would go on to achieve great success. The band lineup included Greg Camp on guitar, Paul De Lisle on bass, and Kevin Coleman on drums. They catapulted to fame with hits like "Walking on the Sun" in 1997 and "All Star" from their 1999 album, "Astro Lounge." "All Star" notably featured in the 2001 animated movie "Shrek," along with the band's cover version of the Monkees' classic, "I'm a Believer."

Robert Hayes pointed out that, together with Harwell, Smash Mouth managed to sell over 10 million albums worldwide.

In 2021, Harwell left Smash Mouth shortly after a performance in Upstate New York, during which he exhibited slurred speech and disorientation. He issued a statement explaining that he needed to address long-standing physical and mental health issues, acknowledging his struggle with alcohol abuse over the years. Hayes, his manager, described Harwell as someone who lived life to the fullest.

Hayes praised Harwell as a "true American original" and emphasized that he should be remembered for his unwavering determination and focus in achieving pop stardom, especially considering his limited musical experience, which makes his accomplishments all the more extraordinary.