in fact, is still on the charts—while‘s Top Five just four weeks after its late-August release.) Although Ocasek, like the group’s other members—bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, drummer David Robinson, keyboardist Greg Hawkes — may not yet understand what it means to have an audience of that size, he certainly would not insult its intelligence.
So far, the reviews have been mostly unflattering, with Rolling Stone describing it as “an out-and-out drag.” The unkindest cut, though, came in the Cars’ own backyard. Writing in thean alternative weekly that was one of the first publications in the country to tout the group, Deborah Frost declared: “Certainly, some of their fans will think they’re really putting their necks on the line this time. Bullshit.
Like most Midwestern crowds I’ve seen, this is a young, clamorous, predominantly male assembly, more interested in rock’s physical than its cerebral side.
“I don’t think we should be that concerned about keeping an audience,” says Greg Hawkes, in reply to a moderate version of that last question. “In fact, our overriding aim is to make music that pleases us.put out records that are a lot stranger—droning, one-chord dirges that nobody would buy. It’s just that we happen to like pop music as well as avant-garde electronic music. That’s the idea: to be an innovative pop band and, at the same time, remain entertaining.
I ask him what he means. Hawkes leans forward and pulls a Casiotone M-10—a miniature two-and-a-half-octave-range synthesizer—out of his travel bag. He turns the select switch to the “organ” mode and plays a fragment of Bach’s “Air for the G String,” then flips it to “flute” and plays the haunting prelude from “Strawberry Fields Forever.” For several moments, he stares at his pet portable wonder with undisguised veneration.
Like everyone else in this group, Orr and Easton make for as unlikely an alliance as one could hope to find in a rock band. Orr, who recently changed his hair from platinum blond to mousy brown — making him look remarkably like a punk version of William F. Buckley Jr. — is probably the Cars’ most streetwise member, a by-product of his upbringing in Cleveland, where he teamed up with Ric Ocasek roughly a decade ago.
But, he says, beyond being able to hone his drum style down to metric precision — plus being able to feed his appetite for pinup art—the Cars’ success hasn’t fazed him much. “I guess ita fulfillment of some sort,” he says, “but it’s so far after the fact that it’s hard to remember what I really wanted when I started drumming. I mean, I can’t even recall half the reasons I got into rock & roll.” He glances at one of his nude beauties and shrugs contentedly.
My favorite song of theirs is “since you’re gone” and I couldn’t listen to it this morning because it made me cry just hearing the opening. He will truly be missed.
The ultimate male example of punching above his weight. Wow, I can't believe he was 75. Thank you for the music. I've never seen a 'Greatest Debut Album' list, but theirs would be high on mine.
R.I.P Ric
LetThemBrushYourRockAndRollHair
The Cars my first favorite new wave band. Ric Ocasek, always will be remembered with his cool image of rock n roll musician.
Damn. My youth is slowly, but an masse, leaving this plane. 'Let them leave you up in the air Let them brush your rock and roll hair Let the good times roll…' RicOcasek
this blows
damnit Joseph
One of the greats from the 80s. Ric and Benjamin left their mark. Forever.
Rest In Peace Ric! Miss you already. You are the link that started my musical journey. 3
His art would make great album covers!
❤️
I love his music. Farewell to a legend.
RIP to a legend
RicOcasek TheCars RIP 🎶🎵⚘
😥❤
And it’s so hard to take....
loved the Cars! a fave in my teenage days.❤️😢 everybodys dying.
But don't forget all the bands he produced. Suicide Bad Brains Weezer Guided by Voices The Fall. I made that one up but I wish he would have!
I was 10 when The Cars released their debut album. I’ve loved them ever since. Moving in Stereo, All Mixed Up, Just What I Needed, Good Times Roll, Let’s Go, It’s All I Can Do...these songs are a major part of the soundtrack of my childhood. Thank you, Ric. RIP.
NOOOOoooooooOOOOooo, first Eddie now Ric :( Its a sad week for rock n roll fans/community/era
I guess we know now who got Eddie Moneys OTHER ticket to Paradise.
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