Ric Ocasek, the lead singer of the band The Cars, has died aged 75.
The US musician was pronounced dead at his home in Manhattan on Sunday afternoon, New York police confirmed.
Officers attended the property in response to a call that Ocasek was unresponsive. The cause of his death is not yet clear but police have said there is no evidence of foul play.
Rock band The Cars were known for chart-topping hits in the late 1970s and 1980s including radio favourite “Drive”, “Just What I Needed” and “Shake It Up”.
Tributes paid
The band formed in 1976 in Boston, Massachusetts, and consisted of singer-songwriter Ocasek, bassist and singer Benjamin Orr, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson.
Other hits included “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Good Times Roll” and the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Meanwhile their 1984 ballad “Drive” soundtracked footage of the Ethiopian famine and was re-released as a single after Live Aid helped raise money for the cause.
A number of stars have paid tribute to Ocasek after news of his death spread, with Canadian singer Bryan Adams writing on Twitter: “RIP Ric Ocasek. Great songwriter and singer for the Cars #RIPRicOcasek.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, real name Michael Balzary, wrote on Instagram: “Ahh man, say it ain’t so. I loved Ric Ocasek.
“What an interesting, smart, kind, funny man who made incredible records. I loved those Cars albums when I was a teenager.
‘Perfect pop songs’
“Perfect pop songs with those wicked Elliot Easton guitar solos. Absolute candy.
“Then he went and produced Rock For Light by the Bad Brains. As an adult I met him several times and he was gracious, funny and engaging. Ahh man.
“Ahh damn. Bless his soul. R.I.P. Transcend to the other side Ric. So much love and appreciation from me. You’re All I Got Tonight.”
The English punk rocker Billy Idol wrote: “Sorry to hear about Ric Ocasek RIP. Loved his work with the band”, while Canadian musician Carl Newman said: “I will never stop imitating the first Cars album.
“His influence will always stay with me. RIP and Thank You to Ric Ocasek.”
