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The Cars to reform?
THE CARS TO REFORM?
Rock supergroup THE CARS are negotiating a comeback tour almost 20 years after they split. The existing members of the American band, which recorded LIVE AID anthem DRIVE, last toured together in the late 1980s but now lead guitarist ELLIOT EASTON has confessed there are plans to return to the live circuit. He says, "We're in the process of trying to put The Cars back together... I think GREG (HAWKES), DAVID (ROBINSON) and myself would consider it if RIC (OCASEK) wanted to." One bandmate who wouldn't return for the reunion is singer BENJAMIN ORR, who died in 2005. (KL/WNWCAF/ES) |
Ben Orr was such an important part of the band, and even though Ric Ocasek was cemented in the public consciousness as The Cars' frontman, Ben sang lead on some of their best-known songs: "My Best Friend's Girl", "Let's Go", "Drive", "Just What I Needed"...
It won't be the same without him. |
Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
Ben Orr was such an important part of the band, and even though Ric Ocasek was cemented in the public consciousness as The Cars' frontman, Ben sang lead on some of their best-known songs: "My Best Friend's Girl", "Let's Go", "Drive", "Just What I Needed"...
It won't be the same without him. |
No Orr, no sale.
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Originally Posted by cungar
THE CARS TO REFORM?
One bandmate who wouldn't return for the reunion is singer BENJAMIN ORR, who died in 2005. |
I'm a Cars fan, but they always had a notoriously crappy live show. Live Aid is about as rocking as they ever got on stage. Without Mr. Orr, it seems like an even worse idea.
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Big Cars fan here too, but this doesn't sound like a great idea.
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Originally Posted by Metrodub
?? I thought he passed in 2000 ??
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The Cars seem to be getting big commercial attention lately. Circuit City uses one song for their ads, and Nickelodeon uses another for their bumpers.
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This is just so wrong. I love the Cars, but as others have said, without Ben Orr, it's not the same. It almost seems disrespectful to do it now, after his death. If they want to play together again, that's fine, but I think they should do so under a new name. And it seems that they haven't even talked to Ric, so right now it just seems like wishful thinking.
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Originally Posted by reverie
If they want to play together again, that's fine, but I think they should do so under a new name.
(only half-kidding) |
"You might think it's foolish, this chancy rendezvous..."
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I'll also agree with others, no Orr no good. He was a big part of that band. And as another poster stated ... their concerts were nothing to get excited about.
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Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
Ben Orr was such an important part of the band, and even though Ric Ocasek was cemented in the public consciousness as The Cars' frontman, Ben sang lead on some of their best-known songs: "My Best Friend's Girl", "Let's Go", "Drive", "Just What I Needed"...
It won't be the same without him. |
Back in their heyday, they were the living definition of a "studio" band. Great albums, but pretty much sucked live. Add 20 years, subtract a crucial member... and the sum is disaster.
Ric would never go for it, anyways. He's a pretty successful producer, and has better things to do than chase past glories. |
I saw them several times in the 80's, and I would HARDLY say that their live shows "sucked". They simply played their music flawlesly (which was really just coldly rendered pop rock). The lack of "warmth" at their shows was a reflection of the band and their music. Apparently, not many people "got" it.
I did. And although I would definitely miss Benjamin Orr, if they tour, I'll see them again. |
ZZ,
As a fellow Pre-Gen-X Michigander, we probably attended many of the same shows. And the criteria for judging a live show has little to do with 'flawlessly' reproducing the recorded song. They were a great band who simply worked better outside of the live environment. And there's no shame in that. |
My very first concert experience was the Cars back just after Candy-O came out - great show by the way (even for crappy seats) and the Vargas cover still gives me the hot.
I concur, reunion not a good idea with out Ben Orr. -Gunshy |
Yep, a Cars live show in the '80s was slightly less dynamic than the animatronic animal band at Chuck E. Cheese. Truly dismal live performers, and without Ben it's even more pointless.
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This was one of my favorite bands growing up but I'm not so sure a reunion is a great idea. Maybe for their bank accounts.
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Was a huge huge early Cars fan. Not so much the last few albums. But did see them live several times. They were good in concert, not great. Still enjoyable. Reforming is a terrible idea.
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I could be wrong on this but, I saw CCR (revisited) at a fair, and I'm almost positive that the guitarist was intro'd as being from the Cars. Same guitarist?
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Yes, Elliot Easton has been the guitarist for CCRR for many years now, and has spoken many times in interviews (since the collapse of The Cars) about his dissatisfaction with Cars music, and how much happier he is with a group that plays more "traditional" music, as opposed to electronic/synthysized stuff.
Perhaps he needs some more guitars... hence agreeing to the Cars reunion (which I'd still go see). |
It's a go-ahead...err, WITHOUT Ric Ocasek and WITH Todd Rundgren. :hscratch:
Nov. 22, 2005 Rundgren steps in for Ocasek in new Cars NEW YORK -- Cars principals Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes are teaming with veteran singer-songwriter Todd Rundgren in a new incarnation of pioneering new wave rock act the Cars, which will tour and possibly record an album next year. Rundgren will step in for Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, who has no plans to participate in the project. Cars bassist/vocalist Ben Orr died of cancer in 2000. The original band split up in early 1988, after a 12-year-career that spawned such classics as "Just What I Needed," "Let's Go," "My Best Friend's Girl" and 1984's Orr-sung "Drive," the Cars' biggest hit at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard.com has learned that the New Cars are eyeing a 2006 tour with another legendary new wave rock outfit, but no details have yet been announced. Reaction to the news that Easton and Hawkes were pressing on without Ocasek and Orr has been mixed, but Rundgren defended the decision this week in a post on the Web site TRConnection.com. (Jonathan Cohen, Billboard.com) |
What a horrible idea.
Whoever came up with the idea of classic bands reforming with new lead singers (Doors/Queen) should be shot. |
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