Drive All Night: The Cars
"So, let’s rewind to the mid-’70s. We’re in Boston—where the rock is loud, the bars are dark, and everyone’s trying to either be Aerosmith or beat Aerosmith. Two guys—Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr—are about to do neither."
"They’ve been in bands together for years. Like actual years. Obscure ones with names like Milkwood and Richard and the Rabbits. And yeah, those names sound like 70s cereal mascots who only appear on PBS."
"But eventually—somehow—they find the right mix of people."
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Ric Ocasek – Looks like he was designed by Tim Burton. Deadpan. Genius. Also, poet.
Benjamin Orr – The pretty one. Smooth voice. Bass player. Voice of 'Drive', 'Bye Bye Love', 'Let’s Go'—so, you know, kind of a big deal.
Greg Hawkes – Keyboard wizard. A guy who probably knew the difference between a Juno-60 and a Prophet-5 in his sleep.
Elliot Easton – Lefty guitarist. Could shred, but never had to. Thinks before he plays.
David Robinson – Drummer, style king. Formerly of The Modern Lovers. Has taste. Has sunglasses. Probably owns a gallery.
"With this lineup? They weren’t trying to be arena rock. They were trying to be smart. Radio-friendly. Slick. Tight. With lyrics that were wry but not whiny. And music that felt like it was written in a garage… and then filtered through a space station."
"They hit the local Boston scene and explode. Labels circle like buzzards at a synth-pop picnic.”