Have never stopped digging my Cars records, especially the first one -- big loss of a cool musician
a sad week for the nice guys in rock
The Cars, great band, awesome songs.
RIP Ric
what a shame. somehow 75 doesn't seem THAT old anymore.
I never bought into out and out "punk rock" (unless you count the Pogues). Most of the "new wave" stuff just seemed like Beatles wannabes wearing skinny ties. But the Cars were ... just what I needed! Great pop sensibilities and hooks folded into a style that was not completely derivative of anything else. Ric's songs could be dark to danceable and he was as stylish as David Bowie. Ric and the Cars filled an important space in my musical awareness. They kept me moving in stereo. Thank you, Ric Ocasek.
a sad week for the nice guys in rock
It seems everyone who knew Ric (friends, neighbors) have all commented just that - He was the nicest guy. RIP Ric
I saw The Cars at MSG. I don't remember if the second album was out. Their set lasted maybe 55 minutes? Yep. But you gotta understand that all their tunes were like only two to three minutes long. The first album is 35 minutes long. They were pretty stiff on stage. I can't see tall skinny Ric crowd surfing. He would snap in half. 
One time later around 89/90, I was outside my job building downtown near Water St. There was Columbus Day closed street festivities going on. Sitting on a bench I saw a guy on a bicycle heading towards me. Looking at him I thought "What a poor schnook to have to look like fugly Ric Ocasek in life, minus the fame and fortune." Moments later behind him I see Paulina on her bicycle! 😮
