Cars Biography

The Cars were a popular American New Wave band, fronted by Ric Ocasek, that emerged out of the early punk scene in the late 1970s. They hailed from Boston, Massachusetts and were signed to Elektra Records in 1977.

The Cars were at the forefront in merging 1970s guitar-oriented rock with the new synth-oriented pop then becoming popular, and which would flower in the early 1980s. While most of the singles included an Elliot Easton guitar solo, The Cars' sound was defined much more by the distinctive and instantly recognizable vocals of chief songwriter/rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek and bassist/sex symbol Benjamin Orr. The sound was filled out by Greg Hawkes' synthesizers and the huge harmonies of Easton, David Robinson, and Hawkes. While Ric Ocasek was the sole lyricist and main songwriter for the band, Benjamin Orr would ocassionally act as frontman in concerts and live appearances.

Ocasek appeared on The Colbert Report and was asked if there was anyone he wanted to put "on notice" and answered Todd Rundgren on April 17, 2006 - further supporting the tour with publicity. He has made several other appearances on The Colbert Report since then.