Early Artistic Beginnings
The Knack originated in the vibrant Los Angeles music scene of the late 1970s. The group was founded in 1978 by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Doug Fieger (born July 20, 1952, in Los Angeles, California) and lead guitarist Berton “Bob” Barger. Both musicians had been active in local bands throughout the early 1970s, playing garage‑rock and proto‑new‑wave material in clubs such as The Whisky a Go Go and the Troubadour. Their shared interest in concise, hook‑driven songwriting—heavily inspired by British Invasion acts like The Beatles and The Who, as well as American power‑pop pioneers such as The Raspberries—led them to recruit bassist Prescott Niles (a former member of several Los Angeles punk outfits) and drummer Mike Des Barres, formerly of the original lineup of the British glam‑rock band The Jam. By early 1979, the quartet had solidified a tight‑knit sound that combined jangly guitars, punchy drums, and lyrics rooted in youthful romance and urban angst.
Influences and Creative Voice
The Knack’s creative voice emerged from a synthesis of 1960s British rock, American surf music, and the burgeoning new‑wave aesthetic of the late 1970s. Doug Fieger cited John Lennon’s melodic sensibility and the “wall of sound” approach of Phil Spector as formative influences. Guitarist Berton Barger’s playing reflected the crisp, arpeggiated style of Johnny Ramone and the melodic lead work of Brian May, while bassist Prescott Niles drew from the rhythmic steadiness of Paul McCartney’s early pop bass lines. Drummer Mike Des Barres contributed a hard‑hitting but restrained percussive approach reminiscent of early Rolling Stones sessions. This amalgam produced a signature “power‑pop” sound characterized by concise song structures (most tracks under three minutes), prominent vocal harmonies, and an emphasis on melodic hooks. The band’s lyrical focus on teenage desire and the perils of fame resonated with a generation transitioning from the disco era to the more guitar‑centric rock revival of the early 1980s.
Major Works and Breakthroughs
The Knack’s debut album, Get the Knack, was recorded in late 1978 and released by Capitol Records in June 1979. Produced by Mike Chapman—renowned for his work with Blondie and The Sweet—the album generated immediate commercial success. Its lead single, “My Sharona,” propelled by a memorable guitar riff and a suggestive lyrical hook, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for six weeks. The single also topped charts in Canada and Australia, and it earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Get the Knack sold over four million copies in the United States alone, achieving multi‑platinum status within months of its release.
Following the debut, The Knack released …But the Little Girls Understand (1980) and Round Trip (1981). While neither matched the commercial heights of their first effort, they demonstrated a willingness to experiment with synthesizers and a slightly more polished production aesthetic. In 1982, the band issued Serious Fun, which marked a subtle shift toward a more mature lyricism and a modest embrace of post‑punk textures. The group’s later albums, including Zoom*Title* (1994) and the 2018 compilation My Sharona: The Best of The Knack, have been largely retrospective, focusing on legacy and archival material rather than new chart‑topping releases.
Collaborations and Evolution
Throughout their career, The Knack collaborated with a number of prominent producers and songwriters. Apart from Mike Chapman, the band worked with producer Ted Templeman (known for his work with Van Halen) on select tracks for Round Trip. In the early 1990s, guitarist Dave Fright (stage name for Barger) partnered with the band’s former bassist, leading to a brief side‑project, The Russians, which explored more synth‑driven new wave sounds. The Knack also opened for major acts such as The Rolling Stones (1979 US tour) and Huey Lewis & the News (1984 tour), exposing them to broader audiences and influencing their stagecraft.
After the death of frontman Doug Fieger on February 14 2010, the band’s remaining members re‑formed in 2012 with vocalist and guitarist Mike Hughes, a veteran of Los Angeles’ power‑pop circuit. The revived lineup released a limited‑edition EP, Got the Feeling, and continued to tour intermittently, focusing on classic hits while occasionally debuting unreleased material from the band’s early vaults. This evolution reflects both a dedication to preserving the original spirit of The Knack and an acknowledgement of changing musical landscapes.
Awards, Reception, and Legacy
The Knack’s meteoric rise in 1979 generated both fervent admiration and sharp criticism. While the band was celebrated for revitalizing melodic rock and inspiring a wave of 1980s power‑pop acts (including The Raspberries revival, Cheap Trick, and later bands such as Wee zer Alley), they were also accused of being “one‑hit wonders” and of exploiting a nostalgic sound for commercial gain. Critics such as Robert Christgau noted the band’s “slick studio sheen” as evidence of a manufactured pop formula, yet later reassessments have highlighted the craftsmanship behind their songwriting.
Commercially, The Knack’s debut remains a touchstone: Get the Knack is frequently listed among the best debut albums in rock history. The single “My Sharona” has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “Songs That Shaped Rock” exhibition and continues to appear in film soundtracks, commercials, and sports arenas. The band’s influence can be traced to contemporary acts that blend retro melodic pop with modern production, including The Strokes, Fountains of Wayne, and newer power‑pop revivalists.
In terms of accolades, The Knack earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist (1979) and received an American Music Award nomination for Favorite New Artist (1979). While they never secured a major award win, their cultural footprint endures through academic studies of the power‑pop genre, inclusion in “greatest‑hits” compilations, and persistent radio airplay of “My Sharona.”
Financially, the band’s enduring royalties from “My Sharona,” album sales, and licensing have contributed to an estimated collective net worth ranging between $15 million and $25 million as of 2023, though exact figures are not publicly disclosed.
