The Cars facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Cars
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The Cars, 1984. L–R: Benjamin Orr, Greg Hawkes, David Robinson, Ric Ocasek, and Elliot Easton.
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| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
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| Associated acts | The New Cars |
| Past members | Ric Ocasek Benjamin Orr Elliot Easton Greg Hawkes David Robinson |
The Cars were a popular American rock band. They became famous in the late 1970s as part of the new wave sound. The band started in Boston in 1976.
The original members were:
- Ric Ocasek (singer, rhythm guitar, songwriter)
- Benjamin Orr (singer, bass guitar, songwriter)
- Elliot Easton (lead guitar)
- Greg Hawkes (keyboards)
- David Robinson (drums)
Contents
The Cars' Unique Sound
The Cars were special because they mixed different music styles. They combined the guitar-focused rock of the 1970s with new synthesizer sounds. Synthesizers were becoming very popular in pop music during the early 1980s.
A music critic named Robert Palmer described their style. He said they blended punk music, complex synthesizer and guitar sounds from art rock, and the catchy tunes of power pop. This mix created their own unique and appealing sound.
Awards and Achievements
The Cars quickly became very successful. In 1978, Rolling Stone magazine readers voted them "Best New Artist."
They also won "Video of the Year" in 1984. This was for their music video "You Might Think" at the first MTV Video Music Awards.
Popular Albums and Sales
Their first album, The Cars, was a huge hit. It sold six million copies. The album stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 139 weeks. By 2001, The Cars had sold over 23 million albums in the United States.
Band History and Reunions
The band broke up in 1988. For a long time, Ric Ocasek did not want the band to get back together.
Sadly, Benjamin Orr passed away in 2000. He died from pancreatic cancer.
New Cars and Later Reunions
In 2005, Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes formed a new band. They joined with Todd Rundgren to create the New Cars. This band played classic Cars songs and some new music.
The surviving original members reunited in 2010. They recorded a new album called Move Like This. It came out in May 2011, and they went on a short tour.
In April 2018, The Cars were honored. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band reunited one more time to perform at the induction ceremony.
See also
In Spanish: The Cars para niños
