The day Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell retired after Nazi salute concert and death threat

band vocalist Smash Mouth, Steve Harwell, who died at the age of 56 this Monday, the 4th, retired from the stage and left the group immediately. This happened right after an embarrassing performance with the group at the Big Sip Festival in New York, United States, via information from The Music.

The bizarre and “chaotic” show in question went viral on TikTok and showed the singer struggling with song lyrics, while shouting obscenities at the audience and even at one point appearing to give a Nazi salute, according to The Music.

At the time, a source close to the Smash Mouth told the The New York Post as Harwell “he has dealt with long-term medical issues for the past eight years” and, during the most recent show, “suffered from a number of symptoms directly linked to his current medical situation.”

“Since I was a kid I dreamed of being a rock star performing to sold out arenas and I was very lucky to live that dream. To my bandmates, it’s been an honor to perform with you all these years and I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have gone on this journey with,” said Harwell in an official statement.

To our amazing and loyal fans, thank you, this was all possible because of you. I tried so hard to get through my physical and mental health issues and play for you one last time. [no dia 11], but I just couldn’t. I can’t wait to see what the Smash Mouth will conquer going forward and I’m excited to count myself as one of the band’s newest fans.

Previously, in other concerts of the group, Steve Harwell had been replaced in some performances.