Television host Carson Daly paid tribute to the late Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell.
On Tuesday, Daly, 50, took to his Instagram page to honor Harwell whom he met while working as a DJ in 1995 in California when the band was unsigned.
“In an attempt to help support our local band (and new party pals) we played their song ‘Nervous In The Alley’ 1 billion times. Things started really happening for them. Our friendship grew tighter,” the former MTV’s “Total Request Live” host explained.
The band signed to Interscope Records and Daly said, “They were on their way.”
“I always kept track of their success as I moved onto MTV & NBC. They had a great run & wrote (and covered) some timeless pop songs,” he continued.
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In a separate post, Daly opened up about Harwell’s “darker days” battling addiction and the loss of his infant son, Presley, from complications from acute lymphocytic leukemia.
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“Life threw him some nasty curveballs, including the tragic passing of his son in 2001 & addiction issues. I always rooted & prayed for him,” he shared.
In his post, Daly revealed the last time he saw the “All Star” singer was in 2016 when he performed on the “Today” show for their 90s Halloween show.
He continued:
“He brought joy to millions with his music and his legacy will thankfully live on. I hope in his final days & hours, surrounded by family & friends he found comfort. He’s in a better place now for sure. Thanks for the good times Steve. You’re home with little Presley now. Rejoice & Rest in peace.”
Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably” on Sept. 4 from liver failure due to alcohol abuse, the band’s longtime manager Robert Hayes confirmed to Rolling Stone. He was 56 years old.
In a previous statement to People, Hayes revealed Harwell was in hospice care and only had “a short time” left to live.
