I had the tremendous honor of meeting Mr. Hawkes and hanging out at his house. Had some amazing conversation about the history of the band, and he let me play one of his ukuleles. I’ll never forget it!
So much personality and talent in a compact frame. Never noticed what a great speaking voice he had until I watched this video. Thanks for all the great music, guys. RIP Benjamin and Ric.
In the early days of the Internet. I want to say about 1995/1996 Greg used to post to the usenet newsgroup AltTheCars. It was really cool, people would ask him questions and he would take the time to answer them. Fantastic guy he is.
I dig Greg's overflowing personality! He seems like a lot of fun. And, of course, he was the perfect keyboardist for the Cars. Loving what you do Greg! Please, never stop.
Greg is such a talented and fascinating man. He did an album of Beatles songs on ukelele that sounds fabulous. I no longer think of him just as a keyboardist....he is so much more. Thanks so much for posting this interview!
Seen Greg on a video playing Saxophone... (Very well).. it was the end part of... ' All Mixed Up'...in concert at Sussex University. ...England...maybe 1978...he is Awesome.
The Cars had such depth of music, lyric, and presence! I still think of Benjamin and am STILL trying hard to manage the loss of Ric! Every Cars album was a six-coupon ride! Each member held the band's vocational promise to their fan base! This is a great, soothing interview! Any true Cars fan would appreciate its worthy exposure of Greg's humble genius. Thank-you!
Greg I just discovered your solo album you did in 1983 and it is fabulous! I always love and admire the way you play and express yourself musically, it has a personality all its own which is you. Thank you for all musical joy you have given us.
The ukulele will forever be associated with the late great Tiny Tim!! The man who made the instrument a lively piece of rock and roll history. Great stuff!! Thanks for the content!! 🎸 🥁 🎤 🎹
Excellent interview - thanks for sharing your thoughts and Memories Greg - your music makes people like me feel GREAT... Keep up the great work - YOU ARE THE BEST EH!
I was really into Pink Floyd and Led Zepplin as a pre-teen/early teen then along came The Cars in the mid-70's. They have continued to be a favourite of mine right into my early 60's to this very day! I was saddened when Ben Orr died and then of course Rid Ocasek fairly recently and The Cars are really no more. I love watching interviews like this one of the various band members and to me The Cars were just one of those "special" bands that touched me in a way few other bands could.
VERY COOL!!!! Thanks for posting this. Love their music, all the members of the Cars seem like really cool guys, very down to earth and funny. That looked like a lot of fun-hanging out with Greg.
Best damn synth-keyboard player ever. (Magic Fingers) that's what you are. I love this interview. always have enjoyed hearing you play. I love all the toys you play on the song + I'm in touch with your world+ cracks me up. good job Greg by the way. keep up the great jams!;!!;;!!!!!!
greg always reminds me of one of the kids on my 3 sons. im glad to see his interviews and at 69 im happy to anybody older than me who can still speak, play and remember why.
Wow I love his ukulele version that was really cool! Every person in the cars is amazing no wonder they have lines of people to watch them early on even before they where famous
Yeah. Greg Hawkes is who we think he is. As someone who considers the experience of playing in the band as a reference to the golden age of artistic expression, I appreciate his down-to-earth, "Let's Go!" approach to existence. I can tell from the various interviews that they had fun as a band, and that their relatively quick ascension into the popular world was, as it turned out, a pleasant surprise to which Ric said in an interview that it took 20 minutes to adjust.
I recommend watching the awesome guitar playing by primarily keyboardist Greg Hawkes by watching the tune TAKE WHAT YOU WA NT FROM THE NOVEMBER29, 1978 "MUSIKLADEN" PERFORMANCE IN BREMEN, WEST GERMANY! I had no idea he was THAT GOOD until i saw that!
I really like Greg, however I was very disappointed that he didn’t mention Benjamin Orr. The main reason why they sounded different was that a member of their band was missing!
Greg Hawkes may have never been in the Cars if his dad didn’t take him to a Beatles concert as a child. Apparently Greg wanted to give up piano lessons, but his father told him he would take him if he continued playing for another year.
This dude is like the twenty you find on the side of the road when you're out of beer money and the extra money you get refunded back by accident combined.
