“Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star” vocalist announced his retirement in 2021

“Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star” vocalist announced his retirement in 2021

STEVE HARWELL, WHO cofounded the band Smash Mouth in 1994, has died at the age of 56, band manager Robert Hayes confirmed. The musician, best known for hits like “All Star” and “I’m a Believer,” died at his home in Boise, ID “surrounded by family and friends.”

Harwell had been in hospice care following medical complications. The cause of death was liver failure, Hayes told Rolling Stone.

Hayes said Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably.” In a statement to Rolling Stone, he offered a lengthy tribute to the artist, who was a staple of ’90s rock music and saw success with multiple albums and singles.

  • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
    1275·
    1 year ago

    He lost me when I saw him in a video trashed while singing and throwing up Nazi salutes and insulting the crowd. You can blame the alcohol all you want, but Nazi salutes are a line you don’t cross. So I dunno what happened to all his positivity, but it’s been long gone.

      • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
        303·
        1 year ago

        That was the event that caused me to lose respect for them. I loved their music before that and was happy to see them gain popularity after Shrek and sad to see that popularity turn against them when radio shows overplayed All Star.

        But then they headlined what I saw as the symbol of the lack of resilience a portion of the population had and removed them from my playlists and don’t let my mind dwell on their songs anymore.

        And now I’m wondering if covid was a factor in his death. Even if his heart condition wasn’t caused by it in the first place, covid does a number on the heart and other organs, and I wonder if it took years off his life.

        RIP, I’ll let go of those feelings now.

        • The Pantser@lemmy.world
          162·
          1 year ago

          He died of liver failure, it was the drinking that did him in. Wasn’t COVID it was the alcohol.

        • I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world
          41·
          1 year ago

          When that video a few years ago went viral of him trying to sing (not at Sturgis) but being just absolutely to fucked up to even know where he was, there was a lot of talk about he went off the deep end drinking when his kid died. He was diagnosed with Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome (“wet brain”) from drinking ten years before Sturgis.

          Wernicke’s encephalopathy has several potential symptoms. The most common issues are:

          A confused mental state, ataxia, or loss of the ability to coordinate voluntary muscle movement, double vision or other changes in your normal vision

          People with Korsakoff syndrome may also experience visual or auditory hallucinations. In addition, they may make up false stories without consciously meaning to deceive. Other symptoms are also possible. For example, you may undergo unusual changes in your normal behavior. You may also experience fatigue and an inability to concentrate. In addition, you may walk unsteadily or feel disoriented or delirious.

    • arefx@lemmy.ml
      503·
      1 year ago

      I was/is an alcoholic (now sober) and I never resorted to Nazi salutes at my worst lol. I didn’t even think about that shit

      • Alien Nathan Edward@lemm.ee
        282·
        1 year ago

        I drank professionally for about 15 years and I also never once endorsed genocide. It’s really easy to do. All you have to do is be a normal person to whom it would never occur as an idea in the first place.

        edit: lol @ the two downvotes who were like “not endorsing genocide is a constant struggle”

    • mysoulishome@lemmy.worldEnglish
      925·
      1 year ago

      Did you watch the video or read the transcript? He’s telling people he’s going to kill then. More and more agitated, just flailing at anything. Flipping off the crowd. Completely out of his mind. Not saying doing a nazi salute is ok but this guy isn’t a nazi. It’s super sad. It sucks if that’s all he will be remembered for.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        305·
        1 year ago

        He was drunk. And yet I’ve been pretty damn drunk and at no point did I ever give a Nazi salute.

          • Czarrie@lemm.ee
            131·
            1 year ago

            I think there’s a gulf of difference between alcoholism that leads to end-stage liver failure and death and “I’ve been drunk before”. Considering he is dead in 2023, gonna say he was pretty pickled already in 2021, especially with whatever downtime the pandemic offered

        • mysoulishome@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1018·
          1 year ago

          Alright, he’s a violent racist if that makes you happy. The internet is so in love with labeling someone all bad or all perfect…

          • zaph@sh.itjust.works
            114·
            1 year ago

            If we’re not allowed to call people who go to rallies that white supremacists attend and throw up nazi signs, when are we allowed to call someone racist. FFS I’m tired of this “stop calling people racist” bullshit. Stop acting racist and people won’t call them racist.

              • zaph@sh.itjust.works
                36·
                1 year ago

                It was the yearly bike rally in Sturgis. It’s not entirely a white supremacist rally but it’s quite easy to find them there as they typically have flags and tattoos that help you spot them. If it was at his own concert there’s the tiny chance it could be some extreme mental break but he went were he felt welcome for this one.

                  • zaph@sh.itjust.works
                    32·
                    1 year ago

                    I might have it mixed with the covid rant but I’m going off memory and I’m pretty sure Sturgis was 2017