A novelty rock band in the same vein as Presidents of the United States of America – but with surf and garage influences instead of the Presidents’ punk/thrash background, Smash Mouth found a hit in 1997 with the ’50s-influenced “Walkin’ on the Sun.” The group was formed in 1994 in San Jose, California, by vocalist Steve Harwell, a former rapper. He began jamming with an old friend, drummer Kevin Coleman. Harwell’s former manager introduced him to guitarist Greg Camp (fresh from the local band Lackadaddy) and bassist Paul DeLisle. The quartet recorded two demos and got the songs into rotation on a local radio station. After playing a summer festival with No Doubt and Beck, Smash Mouth decided to record an album. After finishing Fush Yu Mang, the group were signed by Interscope, which released “Walkin’ on the Sun” as the first single. It became a number one modern rock hit and pushed the album into the Top 40. Touring further helped the album’s push, and the band added in a live keyboardist, Michael Klooster, to bolster their performances. 2019 marks the 25th anniversary for Smash Mouth. They continue to record and tour the globe.
