The Cars singer Ric Ocasek has died, aged 75
16 September 2019, 09:17
Ric Ocasek, the frontman and guitarist of The Cars, has passed away at the age of 75.
The musician died at his New York home on Sunday (September 15). The cause of death remains unconfirmed.
The Cars were one of the leading bands of the new wave movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The band formed in Boston in the mid-1970s by Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, after meeting at high school. Orr died back in 2000 from pancreatic cancer.
They later scored huge hits with songs including 'Just What I Needed', 'My Best Friend's Girl' and 'Good Times Roll'.
The Cars - Drive (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
Their 1984 ballad 'Drive' was also used as background music for footage of the Ethiopian famine during Live Aid, and its re-release helped raise money for the charity drive.
Ocasek later had a solo career, and produced for artists such as Weezer, Bad Religion and No Doubt.
Ocasek is survived by his wife, model Paulina Porizkova, and six sons.
Tributes have come in from the music world:
The weezer family is devastated by the loss of our friend and mentor Ric Ocasek, who passed away Sunday. We will miss him forever, & will forever cherish the precious times we got to work and hang out with him. Rest in Peace & rock on Ric, we love you. #RIPRicOcasek #karlscorner pic.twitter.com/JcTXevr6V8
— weezer (@Weezer) September 16, 2019
Sorry 2 hear about #ricocasek RIP loved his work with the band #Suicide
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) September 16, 2019
I’m stunned and saddened by the loss of Ric Ocasek - he was a visionary who affected the lives and hearts of everyone who listened to music in the 80s. God Speed, Ric! Keep Moving in Stereo!
— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) September 16, 2019
