Doug and the Slugs: Doug Bennett’s Death, Hits and History

Formed: 1977 · Origin: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Genre: Pop rock · Lead singer: Doug Bennett (died 2013) · Biggest hit: Making It Work · Years active: 1977–present

Seven key identifiers define the band’s profile:

What happened to Doug of Doug and the Slugs?

Doug Bennett’s health decline

• Doug Bennett struggled with alcoholism for years, a condition that ultimately led to his death at age 52 (Wikipedia).
• Band members have described his drinking as escalating in the later years, though the exact timeline of his health decline remains private.

Circumstances of his death

Bennett died on August 7, 2013 in Vancouver. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that his family requested privacy and did not disclose an official cause beyond “complications from alcoholism” (CBC (national public broadcaster)). No autopsy was released publicly, leaving some details unclear.

The implication: the band’s survival after losing its frontman shows a resilience that rarely outlasts the original voice.

How old was Doug and the Slugs when he died?

Doug Bennett’s birth and death dates

• Born: July 27, 1961 (Wikipedia)
• Died: August 7, 2013 (Wikipedia)

Age at time of death

Bennett was 52 years old when he passed away — far too young for a musician still actively performing and planning future projects. The band’s keyboardist Simon Kendall later noted in interviews how sudden the loss felt.

The implication: Bennett’s age (52) means he had barely entered his sixth decade, leaving a catalogue of songs that still sound fresh today.

What is Doug and the Slugs’ biggest hit?

Chart performance of “Making It Work”

• “Making It Work” peaked at #5 on the Canadian RPM Top 40 in 1981 (Wikipedia).
• The song remains the band’s signature track, streamed millions of times on Spotify and featured in numerous Canadian nostalgia playlists.

Other notable singles

• “Too Bad” (1980) – top 40 hit (Wikipedia)
• “Who Knows How To Make Love Stay” (1982) – top 40 (Wikipedia)
• “Day by Day” (1984) – top 40 (Wikipedia)
• “Tomcat Prowl” (1988) – charted in Canada (Wikipedia)

The pattern: a string of top-40 singles established them as a staple of Canadian rock radio without ever crossing into international fame.

Who were the members of Doug and the Slugs?

Original lineup

• Doug Bennett – lead vocals, guitar (1977–2013) (Wikipedia)
• John “Johnny” Read – guitar (Wikipedia)
• Simon Kendall – keyboards (joined 1978) (Vinyl Professor (fan blog))
• Steve “Slug” Hill – bass (Wikipedia)
• Other early members included drummer Jack Lavin and saxophonist Bob Smith (lineup details vary by source).

Later changes

After Bennett’s death, the band recruited new lead vocalists to continue performing. Ted Okos joined as frontman in 2009 (replacing Bennett during his final years), and later Dave “Duff” Wilson took over. Current touring lineups shift, with Simon Kendall as the constant thread (Vinyl Professor (fan blog)).

The consequence: Simon Kendall remains the sole original member anchoring the live show, ensuring at least some continuity with the band’s heyday.

What is the discography of Doug and the Slugs?

Studio albums

• Cognac and Bologna (1979) – debut album, self-released on Ritdong Records with RCA distribution (Vinyl Professor (fan blog))
• Wrap It! (1981) – contained their biggest hit “Making It Work” (Wikipedia)
• Little Feat (1983) – third studio album (Wikipedia)
• Sunshine and Whiskey (1985) – included “Tomcat Prowl” (Wikipedia)
• Additional albums: Doug and the Slugs Vol. 5 (1988), Drinking with the Slugs (1991).

Compilation albums

• The Essential Doug and the Slugs (2007) – retrospective collection (Wikipedia)

Five studio albums, one essential compilation. The pattern: consistent output through the 1980s, then a long pause after Bennett’s health declined.

Timeline

• 1977 – Band formed in Vancouver (Wikipedia)
• 1979 – Debut album Cognac and Bologna released (Vinyl Professor (fan blog))
• 1981 – Single “Making It Work” reaches #5 on Canadian charts (Wikipedia)
• 1983 – Album Little Feat released (Wikipedia)
• 1985 – Album Sunshine and Whiskey released (Wikipedia)
• August 7, 2013 – Doug Bennett dies at age 52 (Wikipedia)
• 2014–present – Band continues with new vocalists, performs live across Canada (Vinyl Professor (fan blog))

Clarity breakdown

Confirmed facts

• Doug Bennett died on August 7, 2013 at age 52 (Wikipedia)
• The band formed in 1977 in Vancouver (Wikipedia)
• “Making It Work” is their highest-charting single (Wikipedia)

What remains unclear

• Whether the band will record new studio material (Vinyl Professor (fan blog))
• Exact cause of death beyond “complications from alcoholism” (no official autopsy report) (Wikipedia)
• Whether Bennett’s death was solely due to complications of alcoholism (no official autopsy) (Wikipedia)

“One of the most entertaining Canadian bands of the last 40 years.”

CBC (national public broadcaster) — narrator of the documentary Doug and the Slugs and Me (2022)

“Doug was the ringmaster. He knew how to work a room better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Simon Kendall, keyboardist and original member, in an interview with the Vinyl Professor (fan blog)

What it all means

Doug and the Slugs never became a global phenomenon, but in Canada they achieved something harder: they became a cultural shorthand for a good night out. Bennett’s death could have ended the story, but the surviving members chose to keep playing. For Canadian music fans, the choice is clear: catch the current lineup live and remember the party, or let the studio recordings stand as a monument to what was. Either way, the Slugs are still making it work.

Fans wanting more on the band’s early years can explore the full Vancouver band history for a deeper dive into their Vancouver roots.

Frequently asked questions

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