Ric Ocasek was the visionary frontman of new wave legends, the Cars. Almost fifty years after his tragic death, his complex legacy continues to captivate everyone from rabid fans to serious music historians. A new book explores Ocasek’s tumultuous life, revealing his troubled childhood, personal relationships, and the creative dynamics within the band. As difficult as it is, exploring these artistic and personal contradictions goes a long way toward illuminating Ocasek’s complex and brilliant life.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ric Ocasek endured a rough childhood that certainly informed his persona. He was a controlling figure all of his life, out of deep insecurity and a desire to control. Ocasek once remarked that he needed to be in control because he had been bullied by both peers and family members. This domineering way of being showed up in most areas of his life, but none more insidiously than in his personal relationships and collaborative compositions.
Ocasek, nine years older than his bandmate Elliot Easton, married his high school girlfriend at the age of 18. This premature union took place mainly due to an unexpected pregnancy. With his first wife, he had two children. That’s what he decided to leave behind in his quest to make it big in music. Like many of Ocasek’s decisions, this one would reveal a common theme in his life. Like in his first marriage, he would later abandon his second wife, model Paulina Porizkova. For one, Porizkova married Ocasek at the age of 19, when he was 40. This 58-year age difference sparked a normative debate around the power dynamics of their relationship.
For those 40 years, as the frontman of the Cars, Ocasek wrote and sang the bulk of the band’s biggest songs. His creative vision too frequently eclipsed those around him in the band, including Benjamin Orr, with whom he had a deep creative and spiritual connection. Jealousy frequently marred their relationship. Ocasek’s envy of Orr’s charm led him to limit Orr’s contributions to the band’s recordings. Yet through these tensions, Orr was an indispensable member of the band’s success.
Elliot Easton, reflecting on their complicated interactions, stated, “There are some rough parts to it, but I think he told a true story.” This remark points to the convoluted hierarchy at play within the Cars, one that often found Ocasek’s insecurities overtaking the group. Easton said that Ocasek’s demos were “incredibly bare bones.” This points to Ocasek’s artistic instincts being fully formed but sometimes constraining collaborative possibilities.
As the years went on, Ocasek started to fear hitting the road. This decision was informed by his autonomy, especially his desire for personal financial security. He controlled almost all the publishing rights for the band’s music. This rare combination of circumstances made him freer to take decisive action. This monetary leash gave him the power to choose the conditions he wanted most to match his increasingly insatiable wants and double needs.
In 2019, Ocasek died at the age of 75 of heart-related conditions. After his passing, his massive music catalogue proved to be his greatest asset, selling for $45 million. This sudden mountain of cash highlighted how long gone he still was in terms of the influence of his work.
Ocasek’s will made for a tricky inheritance process. He focused the largest share of his wealth to his two youngest sons, leaving 20% for his middle children’s benefit. This choice not only illustrates his complicated paternal circle, but the complicated, stormy relationships that often characterize his life.
The new anthology provides a cross-section of Ocasek’s impact and vision. Janovitz offers insight into Ocasek’s enigmatic nature: “Ric always wanted to be an enigma. In the end, that’s just what he was.” He noted the multifaceted aspects of Ocasek’s character, stating, “A large component of Ric’s personality was insecurity.”
Even as his impulses complicated relationships and expressed controlling tendencies, Ocasek’s influence continues to shape music as it should. His genius for writing hits and steering a star band still inspires millions of listeners across the globe today, from all walks of life.
Their bandmate David Robinson (the other member of the Cars on drums) recognized the hard realities that were evident in the band’s interpersonal tensions. He added, “We’ll put it this way—nobody comes off worse than they really were.” That feeling is definitely what the new book, The San Francisco Style, evokes. Together, these pieces compose a soulful masterpiece that paints an authentic—and sometimes surprising—portrait of Ric Ocasek.
I think Ocasek’s legacy as an artist is complicated, contradictory even. His brilliance always fighting against his demons and personal struggles. The story isn’t just about success. Yet it is full of these intricacies, which have made him the artist and man he’s become.