R.I.P. The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek

Avatar photo
Ric Ocasek dead at 75

Ric Ocasek, frontman of new wave/power pop group The Cars, has died. He was 75. Pitchfork reports that the New York Police Department responded to a call that an unconscious man was found. The man was later confirmed to be Ocasek.

Born in Baltimore, Ocasek played in a number of bands with his friend Benjamin Orr before they formed The Cars in 1976. The Boston-based group released their self-titled debut album in 1978, which launched a number of hit singles including “Just What I Needed,” “Good Times Roll” and “My Best Friend’s Girl.” The group performed together until the late ’80s, releasing six albums overall, ending their run with 1987’s Door to Door. Ocasek launched his own solo career in the ’80s, beginning with his 1983 solo debut Beatitude.

Ocasek also had a fruitful career as a producer, as well, having worked on records with Weezer, Guided by Voices, No Doubt and Bad Brains. He was also a painter, having shown his work in galleries over the years, and he even made an appearance in John Waters’ Hairspray as a painter. In 2018, The Cars were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Read some tributes below from other musicians and artists to Ocasek on social media.

 

 

 

 

 

The Cars’ self-titled debut is featured on our list of the Top 150 Albums of the ’70s.

 

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Scroll To Top