Died On This Date (February 14, 2010) Doug Fieger / Leader Of The Knack
Doug Fieger
August 20, 1952 – February 14, 2010
Doug Fieger is best remembered as the lead singer and primary songwriter for Detroit new wave band, the Knack. Formed in 1978, with Berton Averre, Prescott Niles, and Bruce Gary, the group seemingly came out of nowhere with a huge hit, “My Sharona,” that has since become a musical icon of the era. With their power pop songs and clean-cut image during a time when punk and heavy metal were battling for the attention of young teens, the Knack offered an alternative that was more akin to the early Beatles. Their debut album, Get The Knack, that also included their second hit single, “Good Girls Don’t,” sat at the top of the U.S. album chart for six weeks while selling over 2 million copies. It’s follow-up, …But The Little Girls Understand went gold, but for the most part, the band’s huge fan base was beginning to move on. The Knack broke up in 1982, but reformed a few times over the years ever since. Before his tenure with the Knack, Fieger played bass and sang lead for ’70s country rock band, Sky. He also played bass in German prog band, Triumvirat during 1974. Doug Fieger, age 57, died of cancer on February 14, 2010. He had been battling the disease for a few years.
Thanks to Craig Rosen of number 1 albums for the assist.