ARTIST

Smashmouth

San Jose, California (just south of San Francisco, for the geographically challenged) has never been known as exactly a musical "hotbed," or really much else except a hometown for those in the computer industry. And this was the problem for four young San Jose natives who had grown up blasting Van Halen and The Clash in their bedrooms. What to do? Well, create your own scene, of course -- and if you form a band that gets signed to a major label and spawns several hit songs, all the better.

Smash Mouth vocalist-to-be Steve Harwell was contemplating what to do with his musical proclivities when his former band, a rap group called F.O.C., fell apart circa 1994. Just for fun, he decided to hang out and make some noise with old buddy and drummer Kevin Coleman (with whom, incidentally, he had played in a kiddie garage-style band before he was old enough to drive). The pair put together a few drumbeat-and-lyric tunes before Harwell's manager introduced them to a local guitarist, Greg Camp. Camp, taking pity on the duo's skeletal arrangements, helped them flesh out their compositions and eventually agreed to join the band -- even bringing aboard a bassist, Paul De Lisle, to further things along.

The finalized lineup became Smash Mouth (a football reference which basically translates as "no mercy") and set about creating a demo. After finishing up two songs, the band brought their tape to local radio station KOME and coerced a DJ into listening to it. The DJ "flipped out" over one track, "Nervous In The Alley." So did KOME listeners. Within a short time, Smash Mouth became the only unsigned band in regular rotation at the station. Fans began clamoring to buy the music.

The only problem was, of course, that Smash Mouth had no record deal, and therefore no music available for purchase. So the guys resolutely booked studio time, the plan being to record an album, and if no labels wanted it, they'd simply release it themselves. They needn't have worried, though: their debut full-length record, Fush Yu Mang, quickly attracted the attention of Interscope Records. The album's unique combo of rock, ska, punk, and ... well, just about everything else became a quick hit across the country, most notably in the form of the '60s-flavored single, "Walkin' On The Sun."

Smash Mouth's second album, 1999's Astro Lounge, followed suit behind the equally infectious "All Star," which also landed the band on the film soundtracks to Digimon and Mystery Men.

The band landed another high-profile soundtrack slot when its cover of the Neil Diamond-penned Monkees hit "I'm A Believer" was included on Shrek. The single also turned up on Smash Mouth, released in November 2001, but the album failed to yield any additional hits.

Smash Mouth returned in the summer of 2003 with Get The Picture, featuring the single "You Are My Number One," a song co-written by Neil Diamond.

Written by Wendy Hermanson