Ric Ocasek, Lead Singer Of The Cars, Found Dead In New York Apartment, Aged 75

Ric Ocasek, the frontman of US rock band The Cars, has died at the age of 75.

The singer was found dead at his apartment in Manhattan on Sunday afternoon.

The New York City police department said officers responded to a 911 after family called to report he was unresponsive.

Ric Ocasek

They said there was no sign of foul play and that the medical examiner was yet to determine a cause of death.

The Cars were formed in Boston in the mid-1970s by Ocasek and his band-mate Benjamin Orr after they met at high school.

They went on to enjoy chart success in the late 1970s and 1980s, but are best known for their huge worldwide hit, Drive.

 

The synth ballad was used as background music for footage of the Ethiopian famine, and was re-released as a result, helping to raise money for the cause.

Ocasek met his wife, model and actress Paulina Porizkova, on the set of the video for the song.

In May last year, she announced on social media that she and Ocasek had separated after 28 years of marriage.

Many of Ric’s fellow musicians paid tribute on Twitter following the news of his death…

He is survived by his five sons, Oliver, Jonathan, Christopher, Eron and Derek.