On September 4, it became known about the death of Steven Harvell (Steven Harwell), the former singer of Smash Mouse. He gained the greatest fame thanks to the songs for the cartoon “Shrek”. In this article we will talk about the most important episodes in the life of a musician.
Formation of the Smash Mouse band
From 1990 to 1994, Stephen performed in the little-known FOS group. After the collapse, he formed the music group Smash Mouse with drummer Kevin Coleman (Kevin Coleman). They were joined by Lackadaddy guitarists Greg Camp and Paul De Lisle. Steven himself acted as a singer. The band’s style combined the characteristics of ska and punk. With this approach, in addition to bass guitars and drums known in rock, trumpets, trombones and saxophones are actively used.
Smash Mouse’s most successful album was Astro Lounge, released in 1999. She went platinum in the US and Canada, and her smash hit, All Star, reached number one on the US Top 40 Mainstream and US Adult Top 40 charts.
The soundtrack of the first “Shrek”
The original Shrek hit the big screen in 2001. Right by that time, the Disney renaissance was over and audiences were a bit tired of classic princesses with noble heroes. However, hardly anyone could have imagined that the adaptation of William Steig’s (William Steig) book would become such a success.
The film grossed nearly half a billion dollars on a $60 million budget and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. In addition, the continuation of the story of the green bogeyman proved even more commercially successful.
Smash Mouse’s song All Star is heard at the very beginning of the first Shrek and sets the tone for the whole story. The band also covered The Monkees’ 1960s hit I’m a Believer. It can be heard before the credits.
The cartoon’s popularity influenced the group’s fame. Plus, for regular viewers who aren’t into rock music, these two songs are all they know about Smash Mouse.
Which green-skinned cartoon did you like the most?
In the same 2001, Stephen and his team appeared in the comedy Rat Race.
And in 2013, the group recorded two songs for the soundtrack of the South Korean cartoon “Pororo the Penguin: Big Races” (Pororo, The Racing Adventure). We are talking about the compositions Beside Myself and Everything Just Crazy.
Presley Medical Research Foundation organization
In 2001, Stephen’s oldest son, named Presley, died of lymphocytic leukemia. This event influenced the musician and, according to some critics, was reflected in his work. However, we note another fact: Stephen founded the Medical Research Foundation, which was named after his child.
In total, the musician had six children. Their names deserve special mention: Harlem, Harlem Jr., Harlim, Harlem and Carlem.
Participation in a talk show
In addition to his passion for music, Stephen Harwell is a guest and participant in various talk shows. The most striking example is The Surreal Life (“Surreal Life”). In it, a group of celebrities from different fields live under one roof and do something in common. The cameras continuously film the participants, so that backstage conversations and interpersonal conflicts come into view. Steven appeared in Season 6, broadcast from March 19 to May 14, 2006. Along with other actors, musicians and TV hosts, he filmed a video, recorded live news and directed pilot releases of new talk shows.
Incident at the Wine and Beer Festival. Completion of a musical career
From 2003 to 2012, Smash Mouth released three albums, but none of them are successful. However, the team continued to travel the world and perform concerts. On October 9, 2021, Stephen performed on the main stage at the Wine and Beer Festival at Bethel Woods Arts Center. He was drunk, forgot the lyrics, cursed with the audience and also gave the Nazi salute. Shortly after the end of the event, the musician announced his retirement. The official reason is health problems. Smash Mouth continued to exist, but with a new singer.
Alcoholism and death
Stephen suffered from alcoholism for many years. Based on this, in 2013 he was diagnosed with diseases that cause serious heart problems, as well as impaired speech and memory.
On September 3, 2023, it became known that the musician was in a hospice, a medical institution for the terminally ill. A day later he was reported dead from liver failure. Band manager Robert Hayes stated, “Steve lived one hundred percent of life: he burned fiercely until he burned out.”
Do you like Smash Mouse’s work? Or are you hearing about it for the first time? Share your memories and thoughts in the comments!
What do you think of the group Smash Mouse?
Source: VG Times