Doug Cowen

Doug Cowen is a South Bend, Indiana-based musician, active since the early 1980s.

Biography
Doug Cowen & The Basics
The Basics was formed in 1982, with members Doug Cowen (vocals, guitar), Charley Neises (bass) , and Ben Hajaj (drums). They released the single "Girls Come Out" with the Elvis-inspired "Girls Come Out" on one side and "I Wanna Love You" on the other. Both songs got local airplay and responses from RCA and Geffen records, though Geffen described their music to be "amateurish" and did not sign them.

The Basics' name was inspired by the fact that The Basics played basic, simple rock 'n roll, influenced by bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Monkees. It was not the band's intention to become a 1960s throwback band, but the makeup evolved into such.

After receiving only local success, the Basics disbanded in 1983, and Doug Cowen went to pursue solo efforts. The Basics re-united in 2004 to make the album Bitter/Sweet, then released Private Drive in 2006. Doug Cowen says his songwriting partnership with bassist Charley Neises is one of the best things that has happened to his music career, since "Charley writes these great lyrics with dark content. My lyrics have always been my weak point. Sure, Bitter/Sweet has some lyrics that are cutesy and popsy, and I love those songs, but I also love the darker side that Charley is able to explore."

Solo Efforts
In 1988, Doug Cowen released a self-produced 7-inch single titled "Easy Love." It became a local favorite, and eventually received national air-play on the ABC Radio Network.

He followed that single with a song called "When You're Young" and then an album, Edge of Reality, neither of which received much interest. Still, Cowen has been able to be a full-time musician for most of the last twenty years. He has also worked as a dock loader and other various blue collar jobs, which inspired his song "This Is My Life, This Is My Home"—an optimistic look at blue collar life.

Discography
Albums
* Easy Love (1988)
* This Is My Life, This Is My Home (1992)
* Edge of Reality (1994)
* Valentine (1999)
* Doug Cowen: Collection (2005)

Videos
* "I Wanna Love You" (2005)
* "Damaged Man" (2006)

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See Also

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