Gregory Dean Camp (born April 2, 1967),[1] is an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist. He is best known as a founding member of the rock band Smash Mouth and served as a guitarist and songwriter across several stints (1994–2008, 2009–2011, 2014, 2018–2019).[1][2] Camp is credited as one of the main songwriters for the band, and as such received a Grammy nomination for the song "All Star".[3][4] Since leaving the band for a solo career in 2008, he has rejoined Smash Mouth periodically.[5] Camp is currently a member of The Defiant.[6]
Biography
Camp was born in West Covina, California, but attended Lynbrook High School in San Jose, California. Before Smash Mouth, he had been a musician in the California rock scene since the 1980s. He was part of several bands including the Gents,[7] when Steve Harwell and Kevin Coleman approached him to form a new band. Camp declined, but Harwell and Coleman persisted, until Camp agreed to look at the songs they had written. They formed Smash Mouth soon after.[8]
Camp wrote Smash Mouth's most memorable songs of the late 1990s and early 2000s, including "Walkin' on the Sun," "All Star," and "Then the Morning Comes". Camp's song "Heave-Ho" was about his experience living in San Jose's St Leo neighborhood.[9] He was the guitarist and backing vocalist from when he co-founded the band in 1994 until he left in summer of 2008, though he has rejoined them periodically.[1]
After leaving Smash Mouth, Camp released a solo album, Defektor, on Bar/None Records.[5][10]Guitar Player wrote that the album "weaves together everything you love about vintage guitar tones, tortured Farfisa, '60s frat-rock vocal hooks, and epic Morricone-esque soundscapes."[11]
In June 2009, Camp rejoined Smash Mouth for several concerts as a guest. He also played with the Santa Cruz rock band The Maids of Honor and Los Angeles band The Selectrics.[12] Camp currently works as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles.
^Hiransomboon, Andrew (January 9, 1998). "California foursome Smash mouth are realising their dreams thanks to the success of 'Walking on the Sun'". Bangkok Post.