South Bay’s Smash Mouth Headlines Potential ‘Superspreader’ Event

STURGIS, SD – A South Bay band within the span of just over six months has gone from headlining a pre-Super Bowl celebration to performing at what epidemiologists fear could be one of the nation's largest "superspreader" events.

Smash Mouth on Sunday performed at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a weeklong event expected to attract approximately 250,000 visitors according to The Associated Press, which would make it the largest public gathering since the inception of the pandemic.

HAPPENING NOW The Buffalo Chip is attracting hundreds, if not thousands, due to the 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (credit KOTATV) #SmashMouth #SouthDakota #Sturgis pic.twitter.com/3QyEtW7vi7
— Connor Matteson (@mattesontv) August 10, 2020

The South Bay band performed at an outdoor venue in which a crowd possibly into the thousands is shown on video flouting social-distancing guidelines.

The rally is being held in a state with no mandates on mask-wearing and no limits on indoor gatherings.

And Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell expresses no remorse.

He's heard on video obtained by TMZ telling the audience at Sunday night’s event: "We’re all here together tonight! F**k that COVID s**t!"

As the celebrity news website put it: “Smash Mouth's proving they might still be All-Stars -- 2 decades after their biggest hit -- but based on their appearance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ... they're not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed.”

Although experts believe the risk of transmitting the coronavirus is less likely in outdoor environments, visitors are expected to pack shops, restaurants and bars in this town of 7,000, The New York Times reports.

Not all visitors to Sturgis are oblivious to the concerns of mainstream science.

“I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to be cooped up all my life either,” said Stephen Sample, who rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle to Sturgis from Arizona, according to The Associated Press.

“This is a major experiment,” he acknowledged. “It could be a major mistake.”

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know

More coronavirus coverage:

• Silicon Valley Cracks Down On 'Harmful' Trump Coronavirus Misinfo
• Top South Bay Official Urges 'Reset' Of Shelter Orders: Report
• Waitress Who Booted Disgraced Tech CEO Gains Hero Status
• Watch: 'Karen' Rant At South Bay Post Office Captured On Video