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THE ALCOHOL LIE
Jimmy Buffett & Steve Harwell — A Tale Of Two Drinkers
Some make the change before it’s too late — some do not
This past Labor Day weekend two famous musicians passed away — for two very different reasons. Steve Harwell was the lead singer of San Jose’s Smash Mouth, who had a big hit in 1999 with “All-Star” and a remake of the classic Monkees song “I’m A Believer” in 2001.
Originally part of the post-grunge alternative movement, Smash Mouth catapulted to pop stardom with these two smash hits — the latter being the highlight of the Shrek soundtrack — and the band became a household name in the process.
Sadly, Harwell died at the age of 56 from liver failure after years of chronic alcohol abuse.
Jimmy Buffett was an American icon.
When his signature song “Margaritaville” hit popular radio in 1977 it launched a career that would eventually span 6 decades. His music and persona were the embodiment of “island escapism,” making him a musical Ernest Hemingway while creating millions of devoted fans who referred to themselves as “Parrotheads.”
