Smash Mouth | |
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Smash Mouth at VMworld 2007 |
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Background information | |
Origin | San Jose, California, United States |
Genres | Punk rock, Alternative rock, pop rock, ska punk, New Wave, Rap Rock |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | Interscope, Universal, 429 Records |
Website | http://www.smashmouth.com/ |
Members | |
Steve Harwell Paul De Lisle Michael Klooster Randy Cooke Mike Krompass |
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Past members | |
Kevin Coleman Greg Camp Michael Urbano Mitch Marine Mark Cervantes Jason Sutter Leroy Miller |
Smash Mouth is an American pop rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994,[1] and was originally composed of Steve Harwell (vocals), Kevin Coleman (drums), Greg Camp (guitar), and Paul De Lisle (bass). They are known for such songs as "Walkin' on the Sun" (1997) and "All Star" (1999).
The band has adopted retro styles covering several decades of popular music. They have also performed numerous covers of popular songs, including The Monkees' "I'm a Believer", War's "Why Can't We Be Friends?", Question Mark & the Mysterians's "Can't Get Enough of You Baby", and The Beatles' "Getting Better." The band's 1999 album Astro Lounge is their most successful album to date, both commercially and critically.
Contents |
History
Formation and first album (1994–1997)
Smash Mouth was formed in 1994 when Steve Harwell, who had formerly played in a defunct rap group called F.O.S., along with his manager, decided to form a rock band. Harwell's manager, Kevin Coleman, knew guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle, who had both played in a local punk band, and introduced the three musicians to each other. The meeting led to the group beginning rehearsals together, along with Kevin Coleman as drummer. The group soon developed themselves into a band, and named themselves Smashmouth, a football term. During their early years, the band played largely ska punk music. The band's first publicity came when a demo of the song "Nervous in the Alley" was played by a San José radio station, KOME. Soon after, Interscope Records signed the band after a show, and the group's debut album, Fush Yu Mang, was released in 1997.[2] Also upon signing to Interscope Records, the band changed their name from Smashmouth to Smash Mouth.
The album's "Walkin' on the Sun" was the band's first major single. The album eventually went double platinum.[2] Which was followed up with the singles: "The Fonz" & a cover of "Why Can't We Be Friends".
Rise to fame (1998–2003)
The band's second album, Astro Lounge, was released in 1999 and marked a change in direction, as it had less of the previous ska influence and more of a pop sound. Despite the change in sound, it led to more publicity for the band, and ended up being one of the most critically acclaimed albums from the group. Supported by the successful single "All Star," which was featured in several movie soundtracks, Astro Lounge was eventually certified as triple platinum.[2]
Also in 1999, The East Bay Sessions was released as a collection of early songs. Shortly after the release of the album, drummer Kevin Coleman left the band due to back problems. He was replaced by Mitch Marine for the tour supporting Astro Lounge, who was subsequently replaced by Michael Urbano at the conclusion of the tour.[3]
In 2001, Smash Mouth covered The Monkees' hit song "I'm a Believer".[4] It was featured on both the Shrek movie soundtrack as well as the eponymous album Smash Mouth.[3] The album sold fewer copies than the band's earlier works, eventually being certified gold.[2] As soon as the album was released, they began to steadily fall down the charts.
New label (2003–2005)
Two years after Smash Mouth was released, Get the Picture? was released, featuring the single, "You are my Number One", "Hang On" and "Always Gets Her Way". Smash Mouth was dropped from Interscope shortly after the release of Get the Picture?. That same year, the band performed a cover of the Sherman Brothers song "I Wanna Be Like You" for the animated film The Jungle Book 2.
Following the band's signing to Universal Records, Smash Mouth released a greatest hits compilation All Star Smash Hits in 2005. The album contains some of the more popular songs from previous Smash Mouth albums, as well as songs from soundtrack albums which were not on the band's own releases. On certain networks and timeslots, the album was advertised as having 18 tracks, including an edited version of "Flo" and "Beer Goggles". Smash Mouth played at Gumby's Birthday Celebration in August 2005.
In December 2005, the band released a Christmas album Gift of Rock. It featured covers of Christmas songs by many artists, such as The Kinks and The Ramones, and one original song, "Baggage Claim".
Fluctuating line-up and recent years (2006–present)
Smash Mouth's fifth studio album, originally to be titled Old Habits, was expected to be released in early 2006. The band had said that the album was much more like the Ska Punk featured on Fush Yu Mang and The East Bay Sessions. In September 2005, the band performed what was tentatively going to be the album's first single, "Getaway Car", on Last Call with Carson Daly. The album was delayed many times, in the hope of gaining publicity with Steve's appearance on the reality show The Surreal Life. Smash Mouth returned to the studio intent on making their new record better.[5] Old Habits was shelved, replaced by Summer Girl, which included some remixed Old Habits tracks as well as new songs. After being delayed in much the same way Old Habits was for several months, the album was released on September 19, 2006. Smash Mouth let Sony Pictures use much of their music from Summer Girl and other songs for the movie Zoom, whose opening titles credit the film's music to the band.
Before the release of Summer Girl, drummer Michael Urbano left the band without warning on February 14, 2006 due to creative differences. The band found a new drummer, Jason Sutter, best known for his work with American Hi-Fi and The Rembrandts. The band released their new album, Summer Girl, later that year. In early 2007, just one year after joining the band, Jason Sutter left Smash Mouth to play drums for former Soundgarden and Audioslave front man Chris Cornell; fill-in drummer Mitch Marine returned to Smash Mouth.
Greg Camp left the band in the summer of 2008. Smash Mouth recruited Leroy Miller to play guitar. Leroy left in 2009 and Greg Camp returned in the band. In 2011 Camp left again and the band recruited Mike Krompass. In 2009 Mitch Marine left and was replaced by returnee Michael Urbano. Urbano left after only one year and was replaced by Marine. Marine left after a brief spell and was replaced by Randy Cooke.
A new album by Smash Mouth entitled Magic is due out September 4, 2012, according to the Sacramento Bee. It will be released on 429 Records. [6]
Egg challenge
In June 2011, a writer at Something Awful offered $20 if the band's lead singer, Steve Harwell, would eat 24 eggs.[7] Others on the site and on Twitter began offering additional sums, eventually targeted to various charities. In July 2011, Harwell accepted the challenge if fans could gather pledges of $10,000 for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.[8][9][10] The fundraising goal was reached in less than a week's time.[11] A self-styled "reality TV fan," Harwell has requested that his friend celebrity chef Guy Fieri prepare the eggs.[12] The event was held at Johnny Garlic's restaurant, in Dublin, California on October 11, 2011. With about 150 people attending, Harwell was able to finish the eggs with the help of audience members as well as the San Jose Sharks mascot, Sharkie. $15,000 was raised for charity.[13]
Members
- Steve Harwell – lead vocals (1994–present)
- Paul De Lisle – bass, backing vocals (1994–present)
- Michael Klooster – keyboards, programming, backing vocals (1997–present)
- Randy Cooke – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2010–present)
- Mike Krompass – guitar, backing vocals (2011–present)
- Former
- Kevin Coleman – drums, percussion (1994–1999)
- Greg Camp – guitar, backing vocals, turntables (studio) (1994–2008, 2009–2011)
- Michael Urbano – drums, percussion (1999, 2000–2006, 2009–2010)
- Mitch Marine – drums, percussion (1999–2000, 2006, 2007–2009, 2010)
- Mark Cervantes – percussion, backing vocals (1999–2008)
- Jason Sutter – drums, percussion (2006–2007)
- Leroy Miller – guitar, backing vocals (2008–2009)
Discography
- Studio albums
Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
AUS [15] |
CAN [16] |
GER [17] |
NLD [18] |
NZ [19] |
UK [20] |
||||||
1997 | Fush Yu Mang
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19 | — | 23 | — | — | 42 | 117 | ||||
1999 | Astro Lounge
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6 | 29 | 12 | 69 | 85 | 19 | 150 | ||||
2001 | Smash Mouth
|
48 | 70 | — | — | — | 46 | — |
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2003 | Get the Picture?
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100 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
2006 | Summer Girl
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— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
2012 | Magic
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"—" denotes a release that did not chart. |
Compilation albums
Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US [14] |
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2005 | All Star Smash Hits
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96 |
Singles
Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [14] |
US Adult [14] |
US Alt. [14] |
AUS [15] |
CAN [16] |
GER [17] |
NLD [18] |
NZ [19] |
SWE [23] |
UK [20] |
||||||
1997 | "Walkin' on the Sun"[A] | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 90 | 76 | 27 | 42 | 19 | Fush Yu Mang | |||
"Why Can't We Be Friends?" | — | — | 28 | — | — | — | 89 | 39 | 29 | — | |||||
1998 | "The Fonz" | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | 95 | ||||
"Can't Get Enough of You, Baby"[B] | 27 | 14 | 30 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | Astro Lounge | ||||
1999 | "All Star" | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 74 | 57 | 15 | 49 | 24 | ||||
"Then the Morning Comes" | 11 | 2 | 26 | — | 2 | — | — | 22 | — | — | |||||
2000 | "Waste" | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
2001 | "I'm a Believer" | 25 | 4 | — | 9 | — | 94 | 87 | 12 | — | — | Smash Mouth | |||
"Pacific Coast Party"[C] | 114 | 23 | — | 53 | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | |||||
2002 | "Holiday in My Head" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
2003 | "You Are My Number One" | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Get the Picture? | |||
"Hang On" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
2004 | "Always Gets Her Way" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
2005 | "Getaway Car" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Summer Girl | |||
2006 | "Story of My Life" | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"So Insane" | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
2012 | "Magic" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Magic | |||
"—" denotes a release that did not chart. |
Notes
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References
- ^ November 1997 NYROCK – Interview with Steve Harwell
- ^ a b c d "Smash Mouth". LyricsFreak. http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/smash+mouth/biography.html.
- ^ a b "Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p215667/biography.
- ^ 27/Nov/2001 Yahoo! Music – Smash Mouth's Third Album Hits Stores
- ^ SheKnows.com – SheKnows gets to know Smash Mouth
- ^ [1]
- ^ Something Awful, June 4, 2011, "Smash Mouth: Please Eat the Eggs" Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ TMZ.com, July 6, 2011, "Smash Mouth Singer – The Kobayashi of EGGS!!!". Accessed July 6, 2011.
- ^ Yahoo! News, July 7, 2011, "A Rock Band Accepts a Strange Challenge...". July 11, 2011.
- ^ Sarah Anne Hughes (July 7, 2011). "Guy from Smash Mouth to smash eggs in mouth for charity". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/guy-from-smash-mouth-to-smash-eggs-in-mouth-for-charity/2011/07/07/gIQA3nzK2H_blog.html. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ Popdust.com, July 11, 2011, "Official: Smash Mouth Will Eat The Eggs" Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ Rae Votta (July 12, 2011). "Smash Mouth Will Eat The Eggs, Harwell Wants A Celeb Chef To Cook Them". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/smash-mouth-will-eat-the-_n_895530.html. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "Smash Mouth singer had egg on his face". San Jose Mercury News. http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_19083591. Retrieved 2011-10-11.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e Peak chart positions for Smash Mouth in the United States:
- "Smash Mouth Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/smash-mouth/chart-history/187073?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- "Smash Mouth Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/smash-mouth/chart-history/187073?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
- "Smash Mouth Album & Song Chart History: Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/smash-mouth/chart-history/187073?f=343&g=Singles. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- "Smash Mouth Album & Song Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/smash-mouth/chart-history/187073?f=377&g=Singles. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ a b Peak chart positions for Smash Mouth in Australia:
- "Discography Smash Mouth". Hung Medien. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Smash+Mouth. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ a b Peak chart positions for Smash Mouth in Canada:
- "Smash Mouth Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/smash-mouth/chart-history/187073?f=309&g=Albums. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
- ^ a b Peak chart positions for Smash Mouth in Germany:
- "Chartverfolgung / Smash Mouth / Longplay" (in German). PhonoNet. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/SMASH+MOUTH/?type=longplay. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- "Chartverfolgung / Smash Mouth / Single" (in German). PhonoNet. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/SMASH+MOUTH/?type=single. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ a b "Discografie Smash Mouth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Smash+Mouth. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ a b "Discography Smash Mouth". Hung Medien. http://charts.org.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Smash+Mouth. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ a b Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ a b c "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ a b "Gold Platinum Database: Smash Mouth". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=Smash%20Mouth&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- ^ "Discography Smash Mouth". Hung Medien. http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Smash+Mouth. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
External links
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