The Cars New wave icons explain 24-year absence 

Absolutely.

Not so underrated if hes in the RHOF. Underrated is Steve vai. Underrated is George lynch of Dokken. I can name guitarists that make Elliot look like a beginner. Not sure what’s so underrated about him… for some reason cars fans throw that word around for Easton every cars video. It’s comical in my opinion.

@@mickywinters8451 On the one hand, you could say that there are too many "underrated" performers to mention, but it depends on how you define "underrated." Elliot my not be as recognized as a lot of other players, but anyone who "knows" music (and particularly guitar) holds his playing in high regard. He's not a "shedder" by any means, but most shedders aren't really all that great as musicians--it's impressive what they can do technically, but technical merit has little to do with artistry and Elliot's most certainly an artist. Elliot Randall's another example of an "underrated" guitarist--his solo on Reelin' in the Years is Jimmy Page's favorite (but what does HE know about guitar...). Not a fan of glam metal, so I can't comment on Dokken, but Steve Vai's awesome (anyone who's ever played with Zappa is by definition awesome or they wouldn't get the opportunity). Now THERE's an "underrated" (read: under-recognized for his playing) guitarist--FZ was on another level and he improvised his solos. Just listen to Inca Roads (One Size Fits All album--the solo was recorded from a live show). That solo section's mesmerizing (and the whole song's fun to play on drums)...

Elliot’s greatness comes from his ability to add perfectly to the music. It is everything to know when to play and when not to, with not too many notes nor too little when phrasing. A great musician knows this and plays this way. So many try to “church” up Elliot’s lines and fail not because they weren’t technically sound but because they couldn’t find musical balance. There are a ton of musicians that know all the scales and modes and can play them at flight of the bumblebee speeds but not many that can make them into music. I’ve listened to a lot of guitarists and he’s definitely one of my favorites

@@mickywinters8451 Well I don't know what you're saying using the word beginner. Elliot had so many great solos. The kind you hum and sing, along with the rest of the song because they're so great. Angus Young and Larry Carlton are other examples of this kind of thing. Music is not a sport. It's art. It's not a competition to showcase how hard you've been working on your speed drills.

@scatman crothersghost at Greg's and Elliot's ages now i'd be surprised if The Cars or The New Cars ever got back together again.

Sadly...

flockofmohawks I would be mad if they kept going. It’s not the cars without the two and no singer can really do what those two did.

For sure truly missed🙏

Tim Morris he lives on legends never ever die

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Totally agree.

Perfect Words!!! ...Ben was unique ..❤

Ben had the rock star charisma and good looks. He made the band IMO. Without his star-power it wouldn't have been the same.

The Cars debut album is a classic..Just about all my friends that i grew up with had that album in their collection.

Me too

Me Too 😊

Miss the 80’s! Fast times!

Same here

I agree

I believe he would be happy.

Life goes on…….u should too

He started driving a wedge into the band and that hurt the whole group! He was demanding that he and his girlfriend should write some of the songs and the rest of the band said NO! So he finally left the band and went out on his own and never really got anywhere on hi own after that! I liked Benjamin Orr alot until he got a big head and destroyed the Cars!

Why . . . the dude's been dead a decade! Now that Ric's gone --- there will be no more Cars! He was the face and the writing guru of the band! You never heard the Stones whining about Jones did ya? Like Eagles say, "Get Over It!"

I can't believe he died I know he's getting older and s*** but he was super healthy man

Totally with you. I go through a thing about every three months where I listen to ONLY The Cars for about a week - and end up watching all of these same videos again too.

Paul Coleman Benjamin lives on legends never ever die i feel his spirit

Ben Orr so gorgeous

ᒍOᗪIᗴ ᗷ Legends never ever die they live on I feel Benjamin’s spirit

is this a haiku

were they 8-tracks?

​@@taketheredpill1452yes

Grew up in Somerville and the Cars are one of my favorite bands. Greg Hawkes brought so much of the unique sound that made them ahead of their time. One of my biggest regrets was never seeing the Cars live.

Charles M Rinehart.

You are correct sir they are the best to ever do it the group together

Yes they are

Cars, definitely one of the great bands with unforgettable songs. Still listen to them.

Absolutely

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I agree! At least he sang Drive, which became their most successful song.

Few? He sang lead on twenty songs. The Cars only recorded about seventy songs while he was in the band

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I don’t mind you comin here, and wastin all my time, cause when you’re standin oh so near, I kinda lose my mind……

He sang many of their best songs!

At least we still got Rick, he's the heart of the band like any frontman, but it is so sad that Ben isn't here to be the engine your right r.i.p Ben

Ben was the co-frontman who obviously like Ric didn't like "attention". His voice was great and integral to their hit sounds. Without Ben, there is no "Drive" and many others. His voice made many songs.

100% agreed

Big suck deal and disappointment when he died RIP but that's life

gmlasam yeah...Ben was the anchor... however I give them credit to continue kicking out good stuff. all are multi millionaires.

Thats so cool of you, stalla, especially from someone from your generation, to acknowledge the great talent of Ben Orr, and the great cars music.: )

Agreed agreed

Me too

I miss him also, his solo music is a bunch of love songs it’s almost like he knew he would die early so he left us his beautiful music

He was the cars. Strongest voice. Every band has the key voice unless lead singer is the main character.

I saw them in 1987 at MSG and it was a great show, what I can recall of it now. Icehouse opened up, they weren't bad. Also wish I'd caught them earlier. My old friend Erik was a massive Cars fanatic and saw them in 1984 at Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, Heartbeat City tour. I should've gone to that. Although, that album didn't really knock me out. Much more into the previous Cars albums.

I saw them on their Heartbeat city tour, they sounded perfect, these guys could legit sing and play. Problem was they had no stage presence, no personality, I don’t know maybe the were just wiped out from the tour, or that just ain’t their thing. Almost like watching Disney’s hall of presidents with a Cars album playing in the background.

@@bboobb1122334455 Oh dear. Yeah, they sometimes got slammed for being kind of stage-stiff, The Cars. I think that was even the case in 1987 when I saw them at MSG. Heartbeat City is not my fave album by any means, I like it, but it sounded too "worked-over" to me at the time. Too techno-ish, too polished. And none of the raw rock energy of the earlier albums.

Scott Briggs not my favourite either, went to see because of the first two. First opportunity to see, and I think Heartbeat city was driven by the times, going for a bit of what was gonna be most popular . Look what it did on and for MTV.

@@bboobb1122334455 Right, it fit in better with what was happening on MTV in 1984, that's for sure. But, way too much reliance on the tech. for me. I heard they even told Dave Robinson, right, we can now dismiss you and we'll just sample what we recorded of your drums already. Or something. So silly. Don't like it, sounds dates as hell to me now, even then, it sounded dated. Not a good sign. Most of my HS pals were even more Cars' fanatics than me, and they could do no wrong, even wit H City. Someone at college in 87 warned me oh why go see them, they sound like a copy of the albums? Which they sort of were. But the 87 show was still cool.

trust me, you are not alone, these guys have made music that has and will stand the test of time...20 plus years from now people will still be jamming to Cars music...

I'm glad to know that I'm not alone, Sonny! I plan on jamming to The Cars until there is no jam left!

I have the greatest hits in my car, and believe me, its gets played a lot...whos gonna tell you when its to late, and whos gonna tell you things aren't so great......

Lol! I have as much as I could download into my iPod! It's wonderful for escaping bad days at the office and long drives north!

im gone to be 43 in April, and music from the 70s and 80s runs in my blood. by the way im a huge fan of Miami Vice and Airwolf(Jan Michael Vincent is an Icon to me)...ohhh and im a huge fan of the Stylistics and Phil Collins...

He was there - just looking down from rock star heaven

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Sydney O'Bier Perfectly WELL said.

+Sydney O'Bier --- I completely agree with you, except to me (and maybe it's just me, who knows) it seemed so "weird", for lack of a better word to explain what I mean here, not to see Benjamin Orr with the guys during this interview (Benjamin Orr---may he RIP). Growing up in the 70's and 80's..seeing these guys ALL the time, seeing Ben with them and to see them now without him...it just seems so weird!! I miss Ben as well, The cars just don't seem complete without him.

well said! I grew up on these guys!

It tears my heart out that the band sounds the way they do without Ben. And it must really tear Ric's heart out. Just amazing.

Extremely well stated, Sydney.

Most people argue that they were boring live and just sounded exactly the same. Didn’t move or talk

@@humanchannel7825 yea, kinda true. they were more pefectionists as opposed to taking chances etc.

sickb2200 I thought the very same thing!!!

Yeah ..it seemed he lost some of his cynicism

I remember I was at The Paradise in Boston watching The Joe Perry Project. Standing next to me was Ric. Like a proud papa I said to him, What do you think? He leaned over (tall guy!) And said, Their loud! 😀 Nothing less than expected from Joe!! Great Boston times!

I think Ric was shy.

+jadesystem --- When I posted earlier, the part about Benjamin Orr...you described what I meant so well...Thank You!!

They played live aid how much bigger can you go.

@@petemiller352 And nailed it!

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Don't forget his idol Lou Reed.

That's funny. I always got Ric mixed up with Matt McCoy from Police Academy 5 & Hand that Rocks the Cradle. www.imdb.com/name/nm0566783/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t8

+Ruben Delgadillo They deserve it

Should've happened a long time ago!

T_T thank you. Thank you.

It's kind of not important anymore since they don't respect the meaning of rock and roll and they ignore better rock acts than the ones that have been inducted

Ruben Delgadillo I agree....it was long over due!

Correct which is why they never replaced him with another bassist.

OMG,,All these years ! never hit me that he was a lefty , thanks Steve

Ric Ocasek wrote 98% of their songs but said that each member of the band always got a chance to do their own thing within each song. That kept everyone happy etc. That was probably more true for EE than anyone else. But if you listen for that in their songs you can hear it for Greg Hawkes too.

Elliot Easton, you rock our world!

@scatman crothersghost Ocasek co-wrote four CARS songs with Hawkes, so not quite 100%.

No matter what rich was a great song wrighter and found an original sound.

Shaun French He doesn’t look well here

@@Chillednfunked - Umm, Benjamin Orr has been gone since Oct. 2000...

@@Chillednfunked You might want to do a little research before making such a comment. (palm in face right now)

Always love the cars.i playthem all the time on guitar and bass.

The Cars, Devo, Gary Numan, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello. I love all those guys. It's too bad Ric is gone now... He was always my favorite new wave musician. Rest in peace Ric.

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