R.I.P. Ric Ocasek, frontman of The Vehicles, useless at 75

Ric Ocasek, frontman of Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame new wave rock band The Vehicles, has died on the age of 75.

In keeping with NBC four New York, Ocasek’s physique was found by cops at a New York Metropolis townhouse on Sunday afternoon. A reason for dying was not instantly identified.

In 1976, after toiling away in a number of completely different initiatives to various levels of success, Ocasek determined to kind a band that higher suited his rock ‘n’ roll and proto-punk leanings. The outcome was The Vehicles, that includes Ocasek as singer, rhythm guitarist, and chief songwriter, Benjamin Orr on bass, Elliot Easton on lead guitar, and David Robinson on drums. The band shortly discovered success with the 1978 self-titled debut album, which featured a trio of high 40 singles in “Simply What I Wanted”, “My Finest Buddy’s Woman”, and “Good Occasions Roll”.

The next yr introduced The Vehicles’ sophomore album, Sweet-O. Propelled by the band’s first high 20 single, “Let’s Go”, the album finally peaked at No. three on the Billboard 200 and would go 4x double platinum.

The Vehicles continued to expertise nice success all through the 1980s, releasing three consecutive High 10 albums. 1980’s Panorama noticed the band embracing a extra experimental sound, however the album proved nonetheless profitable with a high 5 debut. The next yr, Th Vehicles returned to a extra pop-oriented sound for the discharge of Shake It Up, and with it introduced the band’s first high 10 single within the album’s title observe.

The band’s fifth album, 1984’s Heartbreak Metropolis, matched the success of Sweet-O, peaking at No three. and going 4x double platinum. The album contained two high 10 hits in “Drive” and “You May Suppose”.

The Vehicles introduced their breakup in 1988 because the band’s members opted to deal with their very own respective solo initiatives. Over the subsequent decade, Ocasek launched plenty of solo albums, collaborated with the likes of Suicide’s Alan Vega and Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, and emerged as a go-to producer for bands like Weezer (The Blue Album and The Inexperienced Album), Unhealthy Brains (Rock for Gentle), and Guided by Voices (Do the Collapse).

In 2010, Ocasek reunited with Easton and Robinson (Orr died of pancreatic most cancers in 2000) for a brand new album, Transfer Like This, which they supported with a quick tour.

In 2018, The Vehicles have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame. Throughout their induction ceremony, Ocasek, Easton, and Robinson reunited as soon as extra for a quick four-song set.