Presley Scott Harwell Passed Away Shortly after Birth – Facts about Steve Harwell's Son

Presley Scott Harwell, the son of the late legendary 2000s rock star Steve Harwell, tragically died from a cancer-related illness. After his son's untimely death, the rock star participated in an unconventional challenge for a meaningful cause.

A playful internet challenge from several years ago became a memorable moment for the late Smash Mouth vocalist Steve Harwell because it had a subtle connection to his only son, Presley Scott Harwell.

Even though Presley Scott Harwell never witnessed his father's participation in this abnormal request in 2011, the renowned musician's actions earned him immense admiration from the public.

Who is Presley Scott Harwell?

Presley, the only son of Smash Mouth's lead vocalist Steve Harwell and Michelle Laroque, was born on January 6, 2001, in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada. Sadly, his life took a heartbreaking turn weeks after he was born.

He fell critically ill and was admitted to Sunrise Children's Hospital. The infant died on July 28, at only six months old. According to the band's tour manager, Scotty Haulter, the couple's son lost his battle to acute lymphocytic leukemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer primarily affecting children.

While common among youngsters, this form of cancer often offers a favorable prognosis with successful treatments. In contrast, its occurrence in adults typically carries a significantly reduced chance of a cure.

Steve Participated in a Unique Charity Challenge

Following Presley's death, Steve discovered a purpose in his life — raising funds for cancer research. This initiative would never have happened if it weren't for comedian Jon Hendren's playful challenge.

After more than two decades since the passing of his son, Steve grappled with his own health issues.

After initially noticing that the band's Twitter account was not getting attention on the platform, Jon, a fan of Smash Mouth, wrote an article addressed to Steve and his band on the comedy site Something Awful in June 2011.

He humorously requested Steve to partake in an egg-eating challenge. The unusual request gained online attention, and several Twitter users supported Jon's proposal, calling on Steve to grant this unconventional appeal. Jon's message read:

"Thousands of dollars have been pledged for charity. Don't you see? This is the real deal. We're serious."

In July of that year, Smash Mouth responded in a tweet and gladly accepted the challenge under the condition that the money should be raised to $10,000 for the band's preferred charity, St. Jude Children's Hospital.

According to The Washington Post, $7,382 was raised in donations for this noble cause. However, during a May 2014 interview, Steve mentioned that the challenge had successfully reached the desired funds, and he and his band even matched the donation.

He recalled he struggled to finish ten eggs. However, the day took an unexpected turn when an old friend joined the event, making it a memorable experience as his friend took over and finished the eggs for him.

After reflecting on the challenge, the renowned artist shared that Jon, who initiated the challenge, was a teenage gamer who confessed to doing it out of sheer boredom. The egg-eating challenge was one of many that Steve participated in.

He also participated in a charity concert featured in "Rat Race." He recalled in 2014 that it was one of the highlights of his career, as he met esteemed figures like Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Cuba Gooding, and Seth Green.

Steve Harwell's Death and Enduring Legacy

After more than two decades since the passing of his son, Steve grappled with his own health issues. According to TMZ, Steve's manager revealed that the musician struggled with alcohol abuse. The health problem eventually resulted in the rock star reaching the final stage of liver failure.

Steve, who had a troubling incident nearly two years ago, reportedly passed away on September 4, 2023, at 56. During a live performance in 2021, he allegedly appeared disoriented, had slurred speech, and even yelled at the audience. Following this incident, he announced his retirement.

At the time, sources close to Steve revealed that he had been grappling with persistent health challenges, such as cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and Wernicke's encephalopathy. Additionally, his reported substance abuse contributed to his declining health.

Steve and his band Smash Mouth played a significant role in shaping pop culture in the early 2000s. They delivered iconic songs like "All Star" and "I'm a Believer," some of which were featured in the animated film "Shrek."

Steve's death marked the latest loss in the music world this year. Notable figures in the music scene who passed away early this year were Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Jimmy Buffett, and David Crosby.