Ric Ocasek

09/18/201902/15/2021

Ric would wander down to the bowels of MIT where I was broadcasting the Demi-Monde (on WTBS, now WMBR), a show that would eventually be recognized as the 1st punk rock show in the country. He would play his music from his early Boston band Cap’N’Swing and later The Cars.

When The Cars held their record release party for the 1st album in some Boston hotel ballroom, Ric asked me to spin. He wanted punk rock sounds before and after the playing of the debut album.

He frequently bought me the test pressing of his albums to preview. We always joked that my favorites were always the last song on the album.

Perhaps in retrospect, more hits to come.

A fine, fine man.

All Mixed Up (last song on the debut The Cars)[/vc_column_text]

Dangerous Type (last song on Candy-O)

07/19/201601/02/2021

Suicide

My friend Alan Vega of the NYC duo Suicide has died.

Alan’s intense vocals over the electronic sounds of his partner Martin Rev was punk rock at its purest.

Ric Ocasek of the Cars asked Suicide to open for his band at a show at Boston’s Paradise Rock Club, a show that I MC’d. The audience’s reaction was one of shock and then violence as they booed and threw glass ashtrays at the band which only inspired Alan to scream even more passionately. Their set was cut short.

Suicide, their self-titled debut album in 1977, with patched-together synths and drum machines was the precursor of electronic and industrial music to follow.

“Frankie Teardrop” is one of Suicide’s seminal tracks.