“We opened for bands we really hated, like Styx. People were relating to us and not them. They got a little pissed”: the stellar rise and sudden fall of The Cars, the new wave band who soundtracked America

The Cars outside Boston’s City Hall Plaza in 1978.

In the late 70s and early 80s, The Cars were one of America’s most popular bands, effortlessly knocking out hits such My Best Friend’s Girl, Shake It Up, You Might Think and Drive before their split in 1988 following the departure of co-vocalist and chief songwriter Ric Ocasek. In 2005, as guitarist Elliott Easton and keyboard player Greg Hawkes prepared to launch The New Cars, the former members talked Classic Rock through the career of the band that soundtracked the new wave era.

Led by singer/guitarist/songwriter Ric Ocasek, The Cars were the prototypical new wave band. Scoring a string of hit singles during the late 70s/early 80s, selling out arena tours and becoming darlings of MTV, it appeared the band could do no wrong.