Doug Fieger, leader of the power pop band The Knack who sang on the 1979 hit "My Sharona," died Sunday. He was 57.Fieger, a Detroit-area native, died at his home in Woodland Hills near Los Angeles after battling cancer, according to The Knack's manager, Jake Hooker.
Fieger formed The Knack in Los Angeles 1978, and the group quickly became a staple of Sunset Strip rock clubs. A year later he co-wrote and sang lead vocals on "My Sharona."
I've written enough songs to know that they're often only tangentially connected to one's real life. Happy times can lead to sad songs and vice versa. I've written songs about real girls, imaginary girls, and girls whose sole contribution is having a name that makes for an interesting rhyme.
So I must say, I'd never given it much thought; but I was somewhat surprised a few years ago to learn that the eponymous star of "My Sharona" does in fact exist. That's the 17-or-so-year-old Sharona Alperin on the right, pictured on (I'm guessing) the 45 rpm single cover. She's gone on to a successful career as a realtor in the hi-end Los Angeles market. She was a lifelong friend of Fieger's and the band, judging by the music that comes up when you load her web page.
So R.I.P., Doug. Here's to happier days; March, 1979 at Carnegie Hall:
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Update: Well, duh, Sherlock. This wasn't mentioned on any of the sites that I initially looked at, but according to this, she and Fieger were in fact married (just having celebrated their 30th anniversary) and were the parents of two young children. So my condolences to them as well.
UpUpdate: I give up. The BBC reports their relationship thus: "The pair broke off their engagement, but remained close. Alperin is now an estate agent specialising in celebrities' homes and spent last weekend at Fieger's deathbed."