R.I.P. Ric Ocasek

UncleScoopy

Ric Ocasek and The Cars were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018

10 thoughts on “R.I.P. Ric Ocasek”

  1. He was one of those guys who had a pretty limited hot span of a few years, though incredibly successful, with The Cars. I know a lot of Cars fans, but never met a soul who gave a shit about any of Ric’s many solo albums. He had some modest success with producing other artists though. That reminds me of how Todd Rundgren’s career went: most people can name his big 70’s hits, but few can name anything he did in the decades after that, though like Ric he was a studio whiz who did produce other acts as well. Coincidentally, Todd filled in for Ric in “The New Cars”.

  2. In no particular order, two things I remember – the Vargas pinup cover art for Candy-O giving me an embarrassing hard-on in the Music aisle at Target, then seeing them crank on that tour.

  4. Well I guess from now on whenever I hear music from the Cars I will think of my mother who also died today. She was 79 and a retired high school librarian and teacher. My mom wasn’t very musical so I doubt she’ll count as the 3rd along with Eddie Money, so celebrities beware…

  5. Tough week for those of us that grew up on 80’s music. Two things shocked me his age, and that he and Paulina made it 28 years (impressive in the world of celebrity).

  6. Maple Heights HS ’63 (Cleveland area) Funny thing is that school was renowned for turning out national-level wrestlers. Ocasek made Todd Rundgren look like a nose tackle.
    Loved that band, particularly the first two albums. Very heavily influenced by Roxy Music and the Modern Lovers (drummer had even been an ML) two of my faves.

    1. As you probably know, Ben Orr, the Cars bass player was from Lakewood, OH.

      Some great, underrated rock music came out of Cleveland in the ’60s & ’70s. One of my absolute favorites was Damnation of Adam Blessing.

      1. Ben Orr how shall we say pollinated the sister of someone I knew.
        He was about the all-time rock guy chick magnet (Eric Carmen eat your heart out) up there. Back in the days when the Choir ruled and the Outsiders drooled and the Jaybird flew at midnight –
        and Joe Walsh was playing in bars in Kent.
        The local Orchestra wasn’t bad either.

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