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The Cars

Biography

Blondie may experienced a string of number 1 hits and Speaking Heads might have won the hearts from the critics, however the Vehicles were probably the most successful American new influx music group to emerge in the past due ’70s. Making use of their smooth, mechanical pop/rock and roll, the music group racked up a string of platinum albums and Best 40 singles that produced them probably one of the most well-known American rock and roll & roll rings from the past due ’70s and early ’80s. While these were even more commercially focused than their NY peers, the Vehicles were nevertheless influenced by proto-punk, garage area rock and roll, and bubblegum pop. The difference is at the product packaging. Where their peers had been as equally motivated by artwork as music, the Vehicles were firmly a rock and roll & roll music group, even though their music sometimes sounded clipped and faraway, they had more than enough attitude to cross to record rock radio, that is where they produced their name. Even so, the Vehicles remained a fresh influx band, picking right up cues through the Velvet Underground, David Bowie, and Roxy Music. Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr’s vocals uncannily recalled Lou Reed’s deadpan delivery, as the band’s insistent, rhythmic pulse was similar to Berlin-era Iggy Pop. Furthermore, the Vehicles adopted Roxy Music’s business lead concerning LP cover artwork, within their case having designer Alberto Vargas style an attractive pinup-style illustration for the cover of the sophomore recording, Candy-O. Comparable cover art continued to be the Vehicles’ primary visible appeal until 1984, once the group produced some striking video clips to accompany the singles from Heartbeat Town. The video clips for “IT MIGHT SEEM,” “Magic,” and “Drive” became MTV staples, sending the Vehicles to near-superstar position. Instead of pursuing through making use of their achievement, however, the Vehicles slowly faded out, quietly splitting up after liberating one final recording in 1987. Ric Ocasek (acoustic guitar, vocals) and Ben Orr (bass, vocals) have been collaborators for quite some time before developing the Vehicles in 1976. Ocasek started playing acoustic guitar and writing tunes when he was ten. After briefly going to Antioch University and Bowling Green Condition University, he decreased out of college and relocated to Cleveland where he fulfilled Orr, who acquired led the home band on it present Upbeat as an adolescent. The two started writing music and led rings in Cleveland, NEW YORK, Woodstock, and Ann Arbor before settling in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the first ’70s. In 1972, the set was the primary of the folk trio called Milkwood. The music group released an record on Paramount Information in past due 1972 which was disregarded; the record highlighted keyboards by way of a program musician called Greg Hawkes. By 1974, Ocasek and Orr acquired produced Cap’n Golf swing, which highlighted Elliot Easton on business lead guitar. Cap’n Golf swing became a favorite concert appeal in Boston, however the group split up in 1975. Ocasek, Orr, and Easton created a new music group called the Vehicles in 1976 with previous Modern Enthusiasts drummer Dave Robinson and keyboardist Hawkes. Early in 1977, the Vehicles sent a demonstration tape of “PRECISELY WHAT I Required” towards the important Boston radio train station WBCN and it quickly became the station’s most-requested track. For the rest of 1977, the Vehicles played Boston night clubs, and by the finish of the entire year they authorized with Elektra. The group’s eponymous debut recording appeared in the summertime of 1978 and it gradually built a pursuing because of the strike singles “PRECISELY WHAT I Required” (quantity 27), “My Greatest Friend’s Female” (amount 35), and “MEMORIES Move” (amount 41). The Vehicles stayed in the graphs for over two-and-a-half years, delaying the discharge from the group’s second record, and it ultimately marketed over six million copies. Documented early in 1979, Candy-O wasn’t released until afterwards that summer season. The recording was an instantaneous strike, quickly climbing to number 3 within the graphs and heading platinum 8 weeks after its launch. The record released the very best Ten strike “Let’s Proceed” and delivered the band towards the market rock circuit. Maybe like a a reaction to the Vehicles’ quick achievement, the group explored even more ambitious place on 1980’s Panorama. Although recording wasn’t as big popular as its predecessors, it even so peaked at amount five and proceeded to go platinum. Before saving their fourth record, many bandmembers pursued extracurricular passions, with Ocasek earning a popularity as an effective brand-new influx manufacturer for his use Suicide and Romeo Void (he also created some demos for Iggy Pop). The Vehicles released their 4th record, Tremble It Up, in nov 1981, and it quickly proceeded to go platinum, using its name track getting the group’s initial Top Ten one. Following the achievement of Tremble It Up, the music group documented the soundtrack towards the brief film Chapter-X and took a protracted keep, with Ocasek liberating his single recording Beatitude in 1982 and Hawkes issuing Niagara Falls the next yr; Ocasek also created the debut recording from your hardcore punk music group Poor Brains. The Vehicles reconvened in 1983 to record their 5th recording, Heartbeat City, that was released in early 1984. Backed by way of a groundbreaking, computer-animated video, the album’s 1st single, “IT MIGHT SEEM,” became a high Ten strike, sending Heartbeat Town to number 3 within the recording graphs. Three other Best 40 singles — “Magic” (amount 12), “Get” (number 3), and “Hello Once again” (amount 20) — implemented later that calendar year, as well as the record went triple platinum in the summertime of 1985. By the end of the entire year, the group released Greatest Strikes, which highlighted two brand-new strike singles, “Tonight She Shows up” and “You Will be the Gal.” The Vehicles had been on hiatus for a lot of 1985 and 1986, where period Easton released Transformation No Transformation and Orr released The Ribbons. During 1987, the group finished its seventh record, Door to Door. The recording was a moderate strike upon its summer season launch in 1987, releasing the solitary “You Will be the Woman,” which peaked at quantity 17. Door to Door got appeared half-hearted, sparking speculation the group was within the verge of divorce. The Vehicles announced in Feb of 1988 that that they had certainly broken up. All the people pursued single careers, but just Ocasek released albums with regularity. From the ’90s, he’d also turn into a very much sought-after alt-rock maker, having caused with famous brands Weezer, Bad Religious beliefs, Black 47, Gap, Led by Voices, WITHOUT DOUBT, Nada Browse, Johnny Bravo, D Era, Possum Dixon, Jonathan Richman, the Wannadies, and previous Suicide users Alan Vega and Martin Rev. Easton later on reappeared with Creedence Clearwater Revisited, while unfortunately, Orr dropped a struggle with pancreatic malignancy and passed away on Oct 3, 2000. After Orr’s moving, a few fresh Vehicles releases made an appearance on industry, like the concert Dvd and blu-ray Live (taped originally in Germany during 1979, and offering an interview using the group soon before Orr’s loss of life), a double-disc luxurious edition of the traditional self-titled debut recording, and a far more considerable hits collection entitled Complete Greatest Strikes. By early 2002, Ocasek was at the job piecing together a Vehicles documentary film, made up of backstage video footage and unreleased promo videos that the music group filmed itself. He also continuing working on single material, launching Nexterday in 2005 to warm testimonials. In the meantime, Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton teamed up with Todd Rundgren to create the New Vehicles, a pop supergroup whose repertoire included Rundgren’s single songs, the Vehicles’ past strikes, and some brand-new material. THE BRAND NEW Vehicles toured with Blondie in 2006 and released one record, the concert record It’s Alive!, just before Rundgren resumed his single career the next season. By 2010, the Vehicles officially reunited for the very first time in 2 decades, using the past due Orr serving because the reunion’s singular absentee. Dealing with manufacturer Jacknife Lee, they used temporary residence inside a documenting studio room in Millbrook, NY, growing with 2011’s Move SUCH AS THIS. Released on Listen to Music and greeted by reviews that are positive, Move SUCH AS THIS peaked at seven upon its launch as well as the group backed it with a short tour. Later on, the Vehicles joined hibernation, with the only real fresh activity becoming the band’s 2015 nomination for the Rock and roll & Move Hall of Popularity (these were not really inducted) as well as the 2016 compilations Relocating Stereo: THE VERY BEST from the Vehicles and the entire box arranged The Elektra Years 1978-1987.

Quick Facts


Full Name The Cars
Awards MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year
Music Songs Drive, Just What I Needed, You Might Think, Magic, Let's Go, Moving in Stereo, My Best Friend's Girl, Hello Again, All Mixed Up, Bye Bye Love, Good Times Roll, Since You're Gone, Touch and Go, You're All I've Got Tonight, It's All I Can Do, Dangerous Type, Tonight She Comes, You Are the Girl, I'm Not the One, Why Can't I Have You, Sad Song, Heartbeat City, Think It Over, Shake It Up, Double Life, Don't Cha Stop, Victim of Love, I'm in Touch With Your World, Blue Tip, Coming Up You, Night Spots, Gimme Some Slack
Albums Heartbeat City, Candy-O, Shake It Up, Move Like This, The Cars, Panorama, Door to Door, Complete Greatest Hits, Greatest Hits, The Elektra Years 1978–1987, Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology, The Essentials, Exit Door (Live), The Westwood One Concert, 1986 (Doxy Collection, Remastered, Live on Fm Broadcasting), Universal Amphitheatre, L.A. 1979 (Live), Vanishing Point, Panorama (Expanded Edition), Shake It Up & Other Hits, Moving In Stereo: The Best Of The Cars, Complete Radio Concert - 14th September 1978. El Mocambo Toronto (Remastered)
Nominations Grammy Award for Best New Artist, MTV Video Music Award for Viewer's Choice, MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects, MTV Video Music Award for Best Group, MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction, MTV Video Music Award for Best Concept Video, MTV Video Music Award for Most Experimental Video, Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Brit Award for International Group
Movies Cars, Cars 2, Cars 3


  • Facts
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#Fact
1 The music video for their song "Drive" was directed by Timothy Hutton.
2 New Wave synth-pop band of the 1970s and 1980s.
3 Members included Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton, Ben Orr, Greg Hawkes, David Robinson.


Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
BrainDead 2016 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Everybody Wants Some!! 2016 performer: "Good Times Roll"
7 Chinese Brothers 2015 performer: "Since You're Gone", "Bye Bye Love"
Parenthood 2014 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films 2014 Documentary performer: "Shake It Up"
Caffeine Madness 2014 Short performer: "Magic"
The Office 2013 TV Series performer - 1 episode
New Girl 2011-2013 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Regular Show in Space 2013 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Marvel One-Shot: Item 47 2012 Video short performer: "Just What I Needed", "Take Another Look"
$ellebrity 2012 Documentary performer: "Since You're Gone"
Girls Against Boys 2012 writer: "This Could Be Love"
Bachelorette 2012 performer: "Moving in Stereo"
Hick 2011 performer: "My Best Friend's Girl"
The Colbert Report 2011 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Super 8 2011 performer: "Bye Bye Love"
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 2011 TV Series performer - 1 episode
20 to 1 2011 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
NBC Sunday Night Football 2010 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Total Wipeout 2010 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Cold Case 2005-2010 TV Series performer - 3 episodes
Skateland 2010 performer: "SHAKE IT UP"
Glee 2009 TV Series performer - 1 episode
One Tree Hill 2009 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Electric Dreams 2009 TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode
I Love You, Man 2009 performer: "Good Times Roll"
Private Practice 2008 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
My Best Friend's Girl 2008 performer: "My Best Friend's Girl"
Midnight Heat 2007 performer: "Drive"
Good Luck Chuck 2007 performer: "You Might Think"
Transformers 2007 performer: "Drive"
Everybody Hates Chris 2006 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Nail Polish 2006 performer: "MAGIC"
Brotherhood 2006 TV Series 1 episode
Click 2006 performer: "Magic" 1984
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2006 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Just Like Heaven 2005 performer: "Good Times Roll"
The Squid and the Whale 2005 performer: "Drive"
Drawn Together 2004 TV Series 1 episode
The Prince and Me 2004 performer: "Shake It Up"
The Sopranos 2004 TV Series performer - 1 episode
I Love the '80s Strikes Back 2003 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Nip/Tuck 2003 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Wonderland 2003 performer: "Good Times Roll" 1978
Alias TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2003 writer - 1 episode, 2003
Pauly Shore Is Dead 2003 performer: "Good Times Roll"
Mr. Deeds 2002 performer: "My Best Friend's Girl"
Ed 2002 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sorority Boys 2002 performer: "My Best Friend's Girl"
Scrubs 2001 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Not Another Teen Movie 2001 performer: "Let's Go"
Lucky Numbers 2000 performer: "Moving In Stereo"
Where the Money Is 2000 performer: "You Might Think", "My Best Friend's Girl"
Freaks and Geeks 2000 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Boys Don't Cry 1999 performer: "Just What I Needed"
200 Cigarettes 1999 performer: "Just What I Needed"
Jawbreaker 1999 performer: "Good Times Roll"
The Wedding Singer 1998 performer: "It's All I Can Do"
Private Parts 1997 performer: "Since You're Gone"
Wedding Bell Blues 1996 performer: "You Might Think"
Billy Madison 1995 performer: "I'm Not The One"
The World's Greatest Magic 1994 TV Special performer: "Hello Again" - uncredited
Beavis and Butt-Head 1993 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Freunde fürs Leben 1993 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sjans 1992 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Attack of the Killer Refridgerator 1990 Video short performer: "Heartbeat City"
An American Summer 1990 performer: "Good Times Roll"
Date with an Angel 1987 performer: "You Are The Girl"
Top of the Pops 1978-1985 TV Series performer - 4 episodes
Live Aid 1985 TV Special documentary performer: "Drive", "Just What I Needed", "Heartbeat City"
The Fall Guy 1985 TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Sure Thing 1985 performer: "You Might Think"
Saturday Night Live 1984 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Doing It 1983 Video "Shake It Up"
Fast Times at Ridgemont High 1982 performer: "Moving In Stereo"
The Last American Virgin 1982 performer: "Since You're Gone", "Shake It Up"
WKRP in Cincinnati 1979-1980 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Times Square 1980 performer: "Dangerous Type"
Promises in the Dark 1979 performer: "MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL"
Over the Edge 1979 performer: "Just What I Needed", "Best Friend's Girl"

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Live Aid 1985 TV Special documentary Themselves
Cars: Heartbeat City 1984 Video Themselves
Tomorrow Coast to Coast 1981 TV Series Themselves
Fridays 1980 TV Series Themselves
The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade 2016 TV Movie Themselves
The Colbert Report 2011 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 2011 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest
The Cars: Live 2000 TV Movie documentary Themselves
Saturday Night Live 1984-1987 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Cars: Unlocked 2006 Video Themselves
Top of the Pops 1978-1985 TV Series Themselves

Nominated awards

Nominated awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovieAward shared with
1985 Grammy Grammy Awards Best Video Album Cars: Heartbeat City (1984)


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