The late Ric Ocasek of the Cars honored by rockers, fans - Los Angeles Times
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Ric Ocasek of the Cars remembered for ‘biggest sweetest heart in the industry’

Ric Ocasek of the Cars has died
Ric Ocasek of the Cars performs during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland on April 14, 2018.
(Associated Press)
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Ric Ocasek, the founder and frontman for new wave pioneers the Cars, is being remembered by his peers and fans on social media as an incredible singer and songwriter and an all-around nice guy.

The 75-year-old, who delivered songs including “Just What I Needed,” “Moving in Stereo” and “Good Times Roll,” was found dead in his apartment on Sunday afternoon. No foul play was suspected and no cause of death has been revealed.

“The whole weezer family is devastated by the loss of our friend and mentor Ric Ocasek, who passed away Sunday. Ric meant so much to us,” the band Weezer said Sunday on Instagram.

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“He produced 3 key weezer albums, Blue, Green and 2014’s ‘Everything...’, and taught all of us so much about music, recording and songcraft. But more importantly he taught us that one can be in a respected position of great power and yet be absolutely humble and have the biggest sweetest heart in the industry.”

Obituary: Ric Okasek, the singer, guitarist and songwriter for the Cars, helped define the sound of the angled-haircut 1980s with songs including “Just What I Needed,” “Shake It Up” and more.

Sept. 16, 2019

Martha Quinn, former MTV veejay, said Monday on Twitter that Ocasek and the Cars set the tone of the ’80s before the ’80s even started. Their self-titled debut album came out in 1978.

Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Peter Frampton, Terri Nunn of Berlin, Paul Stanley of KISS and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among the music heavyweights weighing in with heavy hearts.

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