Smash Mouth got its name from Mike Ditka's term "smash mouth football".   Smash Mouth was formed in San Jose, Calif., in 1994 when friends and former garage band friends Steve Harwell (vocals) and Kevin Coleman (drums) recruited Greg Camp (guitar) from a local cover band.  Camp then go Paul De Lisle (bass), with whom he'd played in another band, to take the chance on the new band. 

 After just groovin' a couple of years around San Jose Smash Mouth caught fire when area radio station KOME started spinning what would be their breakthrough: "Nervous in The Alley" (Smash Mouth was an unsigned band to receive regular rotation on the influential "Modern Rock" outlet).  Soon the group signed a deal with Interscope Records, which released their debut album, Fush Yu Mang, in 1997.  

 Smash Mouth supported the album with extensive touring, including gigs with Sugar Ray, Third Eye Blind, and Blur, and some others.  Supported by these road gigs the #1 radio success of "Walkin' On The Stun" and a cover of War's "Why Can't We Be Friends".  Fush Yu Mang rushed into the Top 20 and racked up double platinum sales.

 The band built their success with the remake of the Mysterians "Can't Get Enough of You Baby," which debuted on Astro Lounge.

 Produced by Eric Valentine, who sat behind the boards for Fush yu Mang, Astro Lounge was introduced by the radio track "All Star," which began rocketing up Modern Rock chars in May of 1999 it even entered Billboard's Top 5.  All Star was also slated to be the first single and video from the soundtrack to "The Mystery Man."  Greg Camp says "that's sort of our Everybody is a Star.  It generally says don't get down on yourself."  All Star's sister song is Radio.

 Diggin' Your Scene is something of a love/hate tale too, Camp Explains " That song's about things you love and can't live without that can nonetheless kill you.  It's mostly about a particular relationship, but I compare the relationship to drugs - people can be like drugs you're addicted to"  Then The Morning comes on the other hand, addresses what may be a more universal topic: the morning after "If you've ever been on a tour bus, you've seen what happens - it's crazy" Greg says "And you drink and do stupid things and you wake up the next day and go " What was I thinking?"

 "I just want to be considered Smash Mouth; however people interpret it, is what it is."

 The band's unique style comes from the fact that all the band members like different style's of music.  "We formed the band with the intention of getting on the radio and making a record.  It wasn't about trying to be cool.  Being cool is cool, but being broke is being broke.  I don't want to be cool and broke' I would rather be cool and have dough and a career and have people dig our stuff.  I think we have hit songs, and that may sound like we're bragging, but I thin the songs are great." - Portions taken from Smashmouth.com