Biography of The Cars

The Cars were one of the most popular rock bands in America between 1978 and 1985. Formed in Boston in 1976, the quintet was Rick Ocasek (guitar and vocals), Ben Orr (bass and vocals), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Elliot Easton (guitar), and David Robinson (drums). Their 1978 debut album The Cars, which typified their sleek sound -- new-wave energy matched to tight rhythms, disembodied vocals by Ocasek and Orr, and an affection for the sound of '60s bubblegum music -- was an immediate success, spawning the singles "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl."After turning out million-selling albums in 1979 (Candy-O), 1980 (Panorama), and 1981 (Shake It Up), the group members took a breather for solo albums before returning for their biggest album yet, Heartbreak City (featuring the hits "You Might Think," "Magic," and "Drive") in 1984. Door to Door (1987) marked a falloff in the band's popularity, and they split soon after, with Ocasek so far the most prominent solo star. ~ William Ruhlmann