Doug Fieger, front-man of American rock band the Knack, passed away on Valentine's Day after battling brain and lung cancer for the past several years. The band posted an emotional statement on their official website saying, "Our hearts are broken, we will miss you Doug." Fieger was 57.
Fieger had been battling lung cancer for nearly five years. He had also had two brain tumours removed in 2006. He had been undergoing cancer treatment near his home in Woodland Hills, CA.
The Knack was based in Los Angeles and scored an international hit in 1979 with their debut single, "My Sharona." The tune would go on to become synonymous with the band, and the album it came from, Get the Knack, spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. The band broke up in the early '80s, then reformed in 1986, their last album being Proof in 1998. Fieger released one solo album, First Things First, in 2000.
The band were highly influential to everyone from "Weird" Al Yankovic to Nirvana, both of whom did covers of "My Sharona."
In a January 11 interview with the Detroit Times, Fieger, originally from Detroit, spoke about his mortality. "Everybody knows they're going sooner or later. I don't know any better than anyone else when I'm going," he said in the interview. "I've had 10 great lives. And I expect to have some more. I don't feel cheated in any way, shape or form."
Fieger had been battling lung cancer for nearly five years. He had also had two brain tumours removed in 2006. He had been undergoing cancer treatment near his home in Woodland Hills, CA.
The Knack was based in Los Angeles and scored an international hit in 1979 with their debut single, "My Sharona." The tune would go on to become synonymous with the band, and the album it came from, Get the Knack, spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. The band broke up in the early '80s, then reformed in 1986, their last album being Proof in 1998. Fieger released one solo album, First Things First, in 2000.
The band were highly influential to everyone from "Weird" Al Yankovic to Nirvana, both of whom did covers of "My Sharona."
In a January 11 interview with the Detroit Times, Fieger, originally from Detroit, spoke about his mortality. "Everybody knows they're going sooner or later. I don't know any better than anyone else when I'm going," he said in the interview. "I've had 10 great lives. And I expect to have some more. I don't feel cheated in any way, shape or form."
