The Cars 1978 debut album
As news of the death of Ric Ocasek spread, tributes began to arrive for the legendary frontman for The Cars. Many of those mourning were his music contemporaries from the band’s heyday of the late ’70s through mid ’80s.
Sources say Ocasek was found unresponsive in his New York City apartment on Sunday afternoon, September 15, by his estranged wife, model Paulina Porizkova. The couple separated in 2018 after 28 years of marriage.
Among those paying tribute were fellow rockers Peter Frampton, Billy Idol, the Scorpions, and Weezer, for whom Ocasek produced several albums. Our list also includes many from other entertainers fields.
Related: Ocasek’s family issued a statement one day after his death
From his cars bandmate, Elliot Easton…
Thank you for the outpouring of emails, texts and posts of condolence. I may not be able to respond to all of them, but please know that your reaching out at this incredibly difficult time has meant so much.
With Much Love and Gratitude,
Elliot— Elliot Easton (@ElliotEastonEE) September 18, 2019
From Peter Frampton, who’s on his farewell tour…
So sad. Such a great writer, singer, player, producer. My thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace. #RicOcasek
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) September 16, 2019
Ocasek produced several albums for Weezer…
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
sad news. much respect to the great ric ocasek. pic.twitter.com/FSm3ZmYDvf
— Beck (@beck) September 16, 2019
Journey’s Neal Schon wrote: “I was reading and thinking about Ric Ocasek & Eddie Money just the other day passing and this came out. R.I.P. Eddie & Ric our condolences to your families and friends. God Bless.
This was taken outside @SIR_USA in New York, 2011. We were both rehearsing something, ships passing in the afternoon, had kind words for each other. The moment had a feeling like we were the old guard, a lot understood. Fellow Boston boys… RIP #RicOcasek.
– James Taylor pic.twitter.com/IEVZ43r9iD— James Taylor (@JamesTaylor_com) September 17, 2019
From the Killers’ frontman Brandon Flowers, who gave the induction speech for the Cars into the Rock Hall in 2018…
Rest In Peace Ric Ocasek💔 pic.twitter.com/fMdyBLBtjA
— brandon flowers pics (@brandonflowpics) September 16, 2019
From Martha Quinn, one of MTV’s five original VJs, during the Cars’ peak, wrote: “Ric Ocasek, The Cars set tone of #80s before 80s even started – Just What I Needed, Best Friend’s Girl, Good Times Roll. The Shake It Up and Heartbeat City lps brought motorcade of hits to our decade. Dad to 6 sons. Rock Hall of Famer. Thank u for it all Ric.”
RIP Ric Ocasek … we loved the Cars … Scorpions
— Scorpions (@scorpions) September 16, 2019
Alice Cooper wrote: “We have lost another great in Rock N Roll Hall Of Famer Ric Ocasek of The Cars. Ric and I actually used to be neighbors for a time when we lived in the Hollywood Hills. Ric had a very unique voice for rock n roll, there was just nothing complicated about it and that really gave The Cars an edge on the radio. They spearheaded a simplistic new wave of minimalist rock alongside producer Roy Thomas Baker, much to the delight of car stereos and fans everywhere. Condolences to his family and many fans. We’ll miss ya man.”
R.I.P. Ric Ocasek, lead singer with The Cars, at 75. A very cool cat. He was the first person to hear my album The Flat Earth from start to finish, in Mutt Lange’s house in Chelsea.
— Thomas Dolby (@ThomasDolby) September 16, 2019
Aw, man. RIP #ricocasek and thank you for the songs on “Heartbeat City” alone. You were a true original.
— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) September 16, 2019
Sorry 2 hear about #ricocasek RIP loved his work with the band #Suicide
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) September 16, 2019
The genius and originality of Ric Ocasek and his group The Cars blared out of radios and MTV all over the world and gave us masterful pop songs with a full rock and roll sound and attitude that we could all sing along to. Thank you Ric. You will be missed. Rest in power. pic.twitter.com/7MIPu0BNlK
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) September 16, 2019
Comedy film director Judd Apatow tweeted: “I remembering listening to the first Cars record when I was ten with my mom and it was so much fun. Forty one years later it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. It created a new path and inspired so many great bands. He was a legend who brought us all a ton of joy.”
Man…so saddened to hear about the passing of Ric Ocasek, lead singer of @thecarsband, and legendary producer to many. His music was inspirational to me. Our thoughts go out to all of his family, friends, and fans. pic.twitter.com/W1DxoNBKPG
— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) September 16, 2019
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationRest in Peace. I saw the cars at Pacific Ampitheatre in Costa Mesa in 1984. Great show!!!!!
Really missing Rick and the Cars. Fond memories jamming this new kind of music in my first car back in the day and saw the Cars in Richmond Va. One of the best concerts ever. RIP Rick.