The Cars were a pioneering American rock and new wave band that emerged in the late 1970s, blending guitar-driven rock with synth-heavy pop. Known for their sleek sound, detached vocals, and stylish videos, The Cars helped define the sound of the late '70s and early '80s.

🚗 Key Members (Classic Lineup):

• Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals, main songwriter (d. 2019)

• Benjamin Orr – bass, co-lead vocals (sang many of the band’s biggest hits; d. 2000)

• Elliot Easton – lead guitar

• Greg Hawkes – keyboards, synths

• David Robinson – drums (former member of The Modern Lovers)

📀 Major Albums:

1. The Cars (1978) – Debut album; widely considered a classic.

2. Candy-O (1979)

3. Panorama (1980)

4. Shake It Up (1981)

5. Heartbeat City (1984) – Their biggest commercial success.

6. Door to Door (1987)

7. Move Like This (2011) – Reunion album (without Orr).

🎶 Signature Songs:

• "Just What I Needed"

• "My Best Friend’s Girl"

• "Good Times Roll"

• "Drive" – A haunting ballad sung by Benjamin Orr; huge MTV hit.

• "You Might Think" – Famous for its groundbreaking music video.

• "Let’s Go"

• "Magic"

• "Shake It Up"

• "Moving in Stereo" – Used memorably in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

📺 MTV & Visuals:

• The Cars were one of the first bands to fully embrace the music video format.

• “You Might Think” won the very first MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1984.

• Known for combining surreal imagery, computer graphics, and Ocasek’s quirky persona.

🏆 Legacy & Recognition:

• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

• Influenced bands like Weezer, The Strokes, and Smashing Pumpkins.

• Balanced cool detachment with pop accessibility—a bridge between classic rock and the synth-pop '80s.

⚰️ In Memoriam:

• Benjamin Orr passed away in 2000 from pancreatic cancer.

• Ric Ocasek died in 2019 of cardiovascular disease. He was also a prolific producer (for Weezer, No Doubt, Guided By Voices).