Doug Fieger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug Fieger
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Fieger in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Douglas Lars Fieger |
| Born | August 20, 1952 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | February 14, 2010 (aged 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1970–2010 |
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| Partner(s) | Sharona Alperin |
| Relatives | Geoffrey Fieger (brother) |
Douglas Lars Fieger (born August 20, 1952 – died February 14, 2010) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band The Knack. Doug Fieger also helped write "My Sharona," which became the biggest hit song in the U.S. in 1979. He wrote it with the band's lead guitarist, Berton Averre.
Contents
Doug Fieger: A Rock Star's Story
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Doug Fieger was born in Detroit, Michigan. His father was Jewish, and his mother was Norwegian. He grew up in Oak Park, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Doug attended Oak Park High School. His older brother is Geoffrey Fieger, a well-known attorney.
Before starting The Knack, Doug Fieger played bass and sang lead vocals in a band called Sky. This band was formed by producer Jimmy Miller. Sky recorded two albums for RCA Records while Fieger was still in high school. These albums were Don't Hold Back (1970) and Sailor's Delight (1971).
The Knack and "My Sharona"
The Band's Rise to Fame
Besides performing, Fieger also produced music for other bands. He produced the debut album for the Rubber City Rebels and an album for Mystery Pop. Fieger also played in a band called the Sunset Bombers. They released one album before he formed The Knack.
The Knack played their very first show at the Whisky a Go Go nightclub in Hollywood on June 1, 1978. They also performed at other famous Los Angeles clubs like the Troubadour. In 1979, the band signed a record deal with Capitol Records.
The Hit Song: "My Sharona"
The song "My Sharona" was a massive success. It stayed at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for six weeks in 1979. It was the biggest hit song of that year. Many years later, the song became popular again when it was featured in the movie Reality Bites. It was also used in a funny skit on the TV show Saturday Night Live.
The Knack's next hit song, "Good Girls Don't," reached No. 11 on the charts. Their album Get the Knack was also a huge success. It spent five weeks at No. 1. The album sold three million copies in the United States and six million worldwide.
Solo Work and Other Projects
Doug Fieger also released two solo albums. His first solo album, First Things First, came out in 1999. After he passed away, a tribute album to Hank Williams called Hankerings was released in 2010.
Fieger also lent his voice to other artists' songs. He sang lead vocals on two tracks for the band Was (Not Was) on their 1983 album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes. Not long before his death, he sang on the song "Dirty Girl" from Bruce Kulick's 2010 album BK3. "Dirty Girl" was even named one of the best songs of 2010 by Classic Rock magazine.
Later Years and Legacy
Doug Fieger faced some health challenges in his later years. He had brain surgery in 2006 to remove two tumors. In 2007, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. This required medical treatment and surgery. His former wife, Mia, helped care for him during this time.
Doug Fieger passed away at his home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, on February 14, 2010. He was 57 years old. He was survived by his older brother, Geoffrey Fieger, and his younger sister, Beth Falkenstein.
Fieger wrote the famous song "My Sharona" for Sharona Alperin. At the time, she was a friend who later became his girlfriend. They dated for four years. Even after they broke up and married other people, they remained good friends. Sharona Alperin visited him often in his final months. She said that many people from the music industry who cared about him came to visit, which was very special.
