My Sharona Singer of The Knack, Doug Fieger, Died at 57

Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack, a pop rock band popular for its hit song, “My Sharona,” has died on Sunday. According to the Associated Press, he was 57. Although originally a Detroit-area native, his manager, Jake Hooker, says Fieger passed away in his Woodland Hills home after he had been battling cancer for six years.

Fieger had previously told the press that the #1 song in 1979 was about a girlfriend of his who he had been dating for four years. The zealous vocals, guitar riffs, and smashing drums started out as a story about this woman but went on to become the soundtrack for events in pop culture.

In that AP interview back in 1994, he recalled:

“I had never met a girl like her — ever. She induced madness. She was a very powerful presence. She had an insouciance that wouldn’t quit. She was very self-assured. … She also had an overpowering scent, and it drove me crazy.”

The song is mostly known for its use on the Reality Bites soundtrack to the film that starred Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, and Steve Zahn. However, it had also gotten some press later on as one of George W. Bush’s songs on his iPod and the background music for the dance party skit with Janet Reno on Saturday Night Live. The song was ranked #75 on Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs in 2008.

Fieger is survived by his sister, Beth Falkenstein, and his brother, Geoffrey Fieger. We wish his family and friends well.

To honor the voice of “My Sharona,” here are a couple of great videos that accompanied the song.

“My Sharona” live

“My Sharona” used in Reality Bites