Doug Fieger, leader and guitarist of '70s power pop sensation the Knack, died on Sunday (February 14th) in Los Angeles at age 57. Variety reported that Fieger, who had been battling cancer since 2004, had two tumors removed from his brain in 2005. He was diagnosed with brain cancer that year, following a Las Vegas gig at which he became disoriented and forgot the lyrics to the group's 1979 hit "My Sharona." Following his initial diagnosis, Fieger had half of one of his lungs removed.
The band posted a brief statement on it's website knack.com saying, "Our hearts are broken, we will miss you Doug."
"My Sharona," which Fieger co-wrote with guitarist Berton Averre, immortalized Fieger's then-girlfriend Sharona Alperin and went on to top The Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks. The Knack's 1979 debut album Get The Knack spent five weeks at Number One and was certified double platinum. The followup to "My Sharona" -- "Good Girls Don't" -- peaked at Number 11 on The Billboard Hot 100.
"My Sharona" had a chart revival following it's inclusion in 1994's "Gen X" comedy Reality Bites.
Prior to forming the Knack, Fieger was the bassist in the Michigan band Sky, which was founded by future Rolling Stones, Traffic, and Blind Faith producer Jimmy Miller.
Over the years, Fieger had appeared on recordings by Ringo Starr, Roy Orbison, and Was (Not Was).
Recently Fieger provided lead vocals for the track "Dirty Girl," from firmer Kiss guitarist's Bruce Kulick's recently-released album BK3.
The Knack's drummer Bruce Gary died in 2006 at the age of 55 of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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