Ric Ocasek

Ric Ocasek – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Ric Ocasek (1944–2019) was the iconic frontman and primary songwriter of The Cars. Discover his journey, musical influence, solo work, production career, and his unforgettable words.

Introduction

Ric Ocasek (born Richard Theodore Otcasek) was a defining figure in late 20th-century rock and new wave. As the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of The Cars, he shaped a sound that blended rock guitars with synth textures and pop sensibility. Beyond his band work, Ocasek also had a solo career and produced records for many influential artists. His visual artistry and poetic leanings added further depth to his legacy.

Though some sources list his birth year as 1949, credible records and his obituary confirm he was born March 23, 1944, and died September 15, 2019.

Early Life & Background

Ric Ocasek was born March 23, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland, to a family of Czech descent on his paternal side.

When he was around age 16, his family moved back to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended Maple Heights High School, graduating in 1963.

Ocasek briefly attended Antioch College and Bowling Green State University, though he dropped out to pursue music full time.

During his formative years, he was influenced by early rock, proto-punk, and the expressive potential of lyrics — interests that would later reflect in his songwriting.

The Cars & Musical Achievements

Formation & Rise of The Cars

In the early 1970s, Ocasek and future bandmate Benjamin Orr collaborated in various local bands. Milkwood and Richard and the Rabbits.

By the mid-1970s, Ocasek, Orr, Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Elliot Easton (guitar), and David Robinson (drums) formed The Cars, combining rock, new wave, and synth elements into a distinctive sound.

Their self-titled debut album, The Cars (1978), produced hits like “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and “Good Times Roll,” helping to cement their place in rock and new wave history.

Ocasek wrote nearly all of the band’s material and was the principal creative leader.

The band went on to release multiple successful albums throughout the 1980s. After a hiatus, they reunited in 2011 for the album Move Like This.

In 2018, The Cars (with Ocasek) were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Solo Career & Production Work

Ocasek released seven solo albums, exploring more experimental, poetic, and personal edges of his artistry.

One of his best-known solo songs is “Emotion in Motion” (1986), which became a Top 20 hit in the U.S.

He also worked as a producer for bands including Weezer, Nada Surf, Guided by Voices, Suicide, No Doubt, and Bad Brains.

He had a visual and literary side: Ocasek produced drawings, mixed media artworks, and published a book of poetry titled Negative Theatre.

He also had small appearances in film (e.g., Hairspray) and contributed to other multimedia projects.

Personal Life

Ocasek married three times. His first marriage was to Constance (divorced 1971). Suzanne Otcasek in 1971, and after their divorce in 1988, Ocasek married Paulina Porizkova (a Czech-born model) in 1989.

He had six sons, two from each marriage: Christopher, Adam, Eron, Derek, Jonathan Raven, and Oliver.

Ocasek and Porizkova separated in 2018 (though still legally married at the time of his death).

He was found dead on September 15, 2019, in his New York City townhouse. The cause of death was cited as natural causes associated with cardiovascular disease; he also had been recovering from surgery.

Legacy & Influence

• New wave and rock fusion: Ocasek and The Cars played a pivotal role in blending rock guitar ethos with synth and pop sensibility.

• Songwriting craftsmanship: His ability to express concise, catchy, yet slightly off-kilter lyrical ideas made many of his songs timeless.

• Producer & mentor: Through his production work, he helped shape the sound of later alternative and indie acts.

• Multidisciplinary artistry: His ventures into poetry, visual art, and multimedia reflect a holistic artist beyond just music.

• Enduring songs: Tracks like “Drive,” “Just What I Needed,” “Good Times Roll,” and many others remain staples on radio and streaming platforms.

Even after his death, release projects using his demos and recordings continue.

Famous Quotes

Here are selected quotes attributed to Ric Ocasek that illuminate his perspective on creativity, the artist’s life, and identity:

“Once they’re on paper, they’re gone. I like to do as much with the words, as far as image goes.” “The most important thing to a lot of people, is to belong to something that’s hip or whatever... They get real sidetracked trying to think like everyone else.” “I could never be a country person, sitting around trees trying to write a song. I would rather be in the middle of society, whether it’s growing or crumbling.” “People tell me all the time that I look forbidding or aloof. That doesn’t bother me much — I am fairly private, withdrawn, and … distant, I guess.” “I’ve always been a fan of poetry. I grew up with Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Beat poets… I just love the way people threw words around like they were painting.” “When I produce other people, that’s the thing I can do well … I can check their performances, and I can work on the sound while they’re being a band.”

These quotes reflect a man committed to fusion of word and image, introspective distance, and a belief that creativity should resist simple categorization.

Lessons from Ric Ocasek

From his life and career, several lessons emerge:

1. Forge your own space — Ocasek never felt aligned with any one musical stereotype, and yet he made a path that was unmistakably his own.

2. Balance commercial and experimental — He wrote many hit songs while exploring poetic, sonic, and visual edges in his solo and production work.

3. Value the margins — His lyrics often dwell in edges, contradictions — being “aloof,” the alienated, the slightly off-center perspective.

4. Creativity is multidisciplinary — Poetry, visual art, or music are all channels for the same impulse to express.

5. Legacy is layered — Beyond the hits, his influence as a producer and an artistic figure continues to resonate.