Artists Pay Tribute to the Cars Frontman Ric Ocasek
Weezer, Billy Corgan, the Killers, Alice Cooper, Ice-T and more have shared memories of the late music hero

Weezer, who frequently collaborated with Ocasek and enlisted the Cars singer to produce three of their albums, were amongst the first to share their appreciation.
The weezer family is devastated by the loss of our friend and mentor Ric Ocasek, who passed away Sunday. We will miss him forever, & will forever cherish the precious times we got to work and hang out with him. Rest in Peace & rock on Ric, we love you. #RIPRicOcasek #karlscorner pic.twitter.com/JcTXevr6V8
— weezer (@Weezer) September 16, 2019
A number of other artists have also chimed in with tributes on social media. See a selection of those below.
I just heard that a friend, pioneer and colleague #RicOcasekRIP passed away today. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/oHuH2U8zR2
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 16, 2019
#ripricocasek We had a lot of fun making the album #FireballZone. This was one of my fav songs #TouchdownEasy. Though it was the 90's we'd not gotten the memo. It's super 80's but cool. https://t.co/ptSdrIHqBA pic.twitter.com/vGL1odM0TL
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 16, 2019
Feeling grateful for Ric. Had the opportunity to send him this email a couple years back. My first king. Thank you, thank you, thank you. pic.twitter.com/h4u8CXDhRg
— The Killers (@thekillers) September 16, 2019
So sad. Such a great writer, singer, player, producer. My thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace. #RicOcasek
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) September 16, 2019
Oh wow. I'm just hear this awful news.... I'm a huge CARS fan.. RIP. Ric.... https://t.co/qTWHuHlQ7S
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) September 16, 2019
Our walkout: "Since You're Gone".
— The Hold Steady (@theholdsteady) September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek pic.twitter.com/si1DI7HtOT
That syncopated guitar groove at the beginning of 'Good Times Roll' is something that I always slide into and my internal dialogue is always this:
— Carl Newman (@ACNewman) September 16, 2019
"Cool!"
"But isn't it too much like The Cars?"
"How could it be too much like The Cars? They rule."
"Yeah, you're right, Carl"
the label i founded,years ago,had the honor of putting out a song by the great @rjd2 with the legend Ric Ocasek https://t.co/xOWIC7y8pW
— el-p (@therealelp) September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek pic.twitter.com/SqW6BzrY3r
— Alice Cooper (@alicecooper) September 16, 2019
"It doesn't matter where you've been, as long as it was deep." There's a #ricocasek lyric for you.
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek. 😢
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) September 16, 2019
We will remember #RicOcasek for many reasons-his friendship, his artistry, but most of all for his generosity. Here was a bona fide legend, who seemed to care as much about our record as we did. Which was a huge thrill, of course. A star through and through. RIP Ric, love you x pic.twitter.com/EvNjqzHotw
— The Cribs (@thecribs) September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek. A very sad loss. My condolences to his family. https://t.co/0KXmMC0qEi
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek. Great songwriter and singer for the Cars #RIPRicOcasek
— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) September 16, 2019