We heard the sad news that Ric Ocasek died yesterday. That one came out of the blue. The last time we saw him, he seemed healthy. It was the Spring of 2018 when his band the Cars were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 14: Inductees David Robinson, Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes of The Cars attend the 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Auditorium on April 14, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
He brought his family with him, his wife, the supermodel Paulina Porizkova and their two sons. The couple had been married for 28 years but announced their separation shortly after the induction ceremony.
I met Ric when the Cars came to the Spectrum in 1979 after their second album Candy O came out. He’s got a wry sense of humor as you can see in this clip.
This was backstage before they went on. I noticed how casual he was with the camera and the lights, he was chewing gum and smoking a cigarette during our short convo.
See the whole TV report about the Cars complete with my ‘80s hairdo (a perm) – here – as it aired on KYW-TV when I was the Rock Reporter for Eyewitness News early in my career.
Ric’s wife Paulina Porizkova had this to say on his Facebook page. The family statement is also available here.
Thank you, Ric Ocasek for your music that contributed to the soundtrack of our lives. Rest in peace.
