Ric Ocasek dies

[dandarez]

Has died at 75.

Some will say 'who?'
But many will remember The Cars (how appropriate on Pistonheads).

'Drive' was one of the biggest hits of the mid 80s. Ben Orr (bass and lead vocals) died in 2000 at only 53, great singer.

RIP Ric
Will be playing a few records this eve in respect.

Bit like the other top American band TP&TH, The Cars (from Boston) made it big here early (1979) - whole concert from Rock Goes to College series is still on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvI1RhNvQro

Edited by dandarez on Monday 16th September 11:07

[bonerp]

when I had my disco I used to finish the evening with Drive. Had to play it this morning. RIP fella.

[mikeiow]

Yup.....I thought "I must know some Cars numbers" - popped on a Spotify "best tracks" list, & was blown away by how they brought back memories of the 80s: some crackers in there.
Gettin' old......

[Penelope Stopit]

Sad

Let The Good Times Roll - Bye Bye, Love

[dandarez]

Just watching the vid of 'Drive' - the official one - and realised the 'bird' (please don't be offended!) in it was Ric's wife to be, Paulina Porizkova.

They separated I think last year.

'Drive' was sort of inspirational to many, including me.
Probably only the second or third time in my life where I'd skived off work (first time was while on overtime to get a couple skiving work pals to drive me 50 miles to look at a sportscar - which I bought and drove back home, another pal clocked us out! Yeah, it that long ago!).

Another skive time was in 1985, I'd skived off for the afternoon to 'DRIVE' 90 odd miles to Southampton Uni to look at some equipment for sale - I bought it, somehow got this huge contraption in my sportscar and while driving back in that wonderful August sunshine, 'Drive' came on the radio. In that instance like fate I thought 'fk work, I've had enough of people telling me what to do, I'm gonna go it alone.'
It took another five years to pluck up the courage to 'sling it in' and I never looked back.

[Finlandia]

Many Cars tunes are on my Drive playlist.

Good night Ric, you gave us ugly blokes hope

[andySC]

My Mum used to give Heartbeat City some welly when I was growing up (...she thought Ben Orr was the prettiest man alive). I can remember the songs, some belters. The drummer shared his name with the old man so I thought that was cool as a nipper.

A great band. Drive is bloody fab.