About
Smash Mouth is an American alternative pop-rock band known for their catchy, melodic songs, especially the hit single “I’m a Believer.”
Smash Mouth was formed in 1994 in San Jose, California, by singer Steve Harwell. Harwell had been a rapper with the group F.O.S. before joining forces with drummer Kevin Coleman, guitarist Greg Camp, and bassist Paul DeLisle. Over the next few years, the group released two demos which received air time on local radio stations, leading to festival gigs alongside No Doubt and Beck.
Smash Mouth recorded Fush Yu Mang in 1997, and were subsequently signed by Interscope Records. Interscope released “Walkin’ on the Sun” that year, and the single became a number one rock hit, leading to a tour and expansion of the band with keyboardist Michael Klooster. Astro Lounge followed in 1999, headed by the ‘smash’ hit “All Star,” along with a smaller release of East Bay Sessions.
After re-arranging a few of its members, Smash Mouth came out with two albums popular among fans, Smash Mouth (2001), and Get the Picture? (2003). In 2001, the group contributed a cover of the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” to the Shrek soundtrack, which became their most popular song to date. Many of the numbers from these albums were featured in 2005’s hits collection, All Star Smash Hits.
During an extended hiatus, lead singer Harwell appeared on VH1’s reality show The Surreal Life, while drummer Urbano was replaced by Jason Sutter of American Hi-Fi. In 2007, the band released their fifth album, Summer Girl, a mildly successful work which would not be reprised until 2012’s Magic. Smash Mouth performs regularly and is often booked for private parties and corporate entertainment events.
