The Cars

One of America's most popular bands between 1978-85, the Cars managed to be cool enough for the underground and commercial enough for the mainstream, enriching an alternative scene in Boston and nationwide.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Cleveland, singer/songwriter/guitarist Ric Ocasek first came to Boston in 1971. There he took notice of seminal bands like the Velvet Underground (then Boston-based) and the Modern Lovers. Ocasek's earliest musical partner was fellow Cleveland transplant, singer/bassist Ben Orr.

In 1973 the two formed Milkwood, an acoustic band that released one flop album in 1973. The other future Cars-guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson-all connected with Ocasek during different interim bands, and the quintet was formally christened in 1976. Though the Cars were a presence in Boston clubs, they made the greatest impression through studio tapes.

An early version of "Just What I Needed" was recorded in 1977 and crossed over from college radio to commercial station WBCN, still as an unreleased tape. Former WBCN DJ Maxanne Sartori, then working for Elektra Records, got them signed to the label; they went into the studio with English producer Roy Thomas Baker of Queen fame. A more polished version of "Just What I Needed" became the first single from their self-titled album.

Characteristically it drew both from European art-rock (with Hawkes' Kraftwerk-inspired synthesizers) and bubblegum pop (the guitar intro was borrowed from the Ohio Express' "Yummy Yummy Yummy"). Two more hits followed ("My Best Friend's Girl" and "Good Times Roll"), and the album was platinum by year's end. The second album Candy-O, also drawn largely from their early club repertoire, was also successful the following year.

Though not a drastic departure, 1980's Panorama had a moodier sound and was considered their "difficult" album. They got back to accessible territory with Shake It Up (the one Cars album recorded at their own studio, Syncro Sound on Newbury Street) and Heartbeat City. The latter brought in producer Mutt Lange for a streamlined '80s sound and produced six hit singles including "Drive" (a ballad with a standout Orr vocal) and "Hello Again," which spawned the only rock video directed by Andy Warhol.

The Cars also played Live Aid during the height of their popularity in 1985. There were troubles when the band reconvened to make Door to Door in 1987; Ocasek had begun making solo albums and was running low on material. It was the first relative flop and the dispirited band broke up soon afterwards.

The original five reunited only for a DVD interview in 2000; however Orr was ailing with pancreatic cancer and died only weeks afterward. Easton and Hawkes formed the New Cars in 2006 with Todd Rundgren as frontman; but this proved short-lived. Finally the surviving quartet made a well-received album, Move Like This in 2011 and toured briefly behind it. They played together again at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018.

Ocasek hinted the possibility of new music afterward; but had health issues that weren't made public. He died in September 2019, following complications from a routine surgery.