The Cars truly hated one legendary rock band they toured with

As a gamer who grew up with the golden era of rock music blaring from my parents’ record player, I can’t help but have a soft spot for both the Cars and Styx. The former was a pioneer in the New Wave movement, while the latter ruled the airwaves with their bombastic anthems.


Naturally, the Cars stood out on their own merit. Not only were they eventually inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they’ve managed to maintain a loyal fanbase for over four decades – an impressive feat indeed. Moreover, Ric Ocasek and his fellow band members weren’t shy about expressing their opinions on certain matters.

Ric Ocasek was not only skilled in his music and songwriting, but he also possessed a keen understanding of what makes a song effective. Beyond crafting catchy tunes for the Cars and himself, he also produced records for numerous esteemed musical artists. When he expressed dislike towards a particular band, it was likely based on valid reasons.

As per Classic Rock, Ocasek had no fondness for one notable rock band, specifically Styx. His dislike stemmed from the fact that he felt Styx was somewhat envious of the limelight the Cars were receiving when they toured together, as the Cars started gaining popularity.

Ric Ocasek said the Cars really hated Styx

Ocasek stated, “Initially, we opened for a variety of acts; we even supported groups that we strongly disliked, such as Styx. Generally, those bands would sneakily watch our performance from the stage wings to see what was happening. It appeared that the audience connected more with us rather than them, which made them somewhat aggravated.”

From Rick Ocasek’s point of view, it appears he kept his feelings private. DeYoung mentioned that he wasn’t aware of Ocasek’s true feelings. DeYoung also stated that he hadn’t come across the interview with Ocasek until recently when a friend who works in radio shared it with him.

DeYoung replied to Ocasek’s statement on Facebook, stating in part, “I didn’t realize they disliked us, but that’s not unusual for new bands trying to succeed the current chart-toppers. However, the idea that we were upset about our fans connecting more with them was quite amusing. The Cars opened for us during some West Coast dates on the Paradise Tour, and if I recall correctly, at the Forum in L.A. That year, we sold out six shows between the Forum and the Los Angeles Sports Arena. We were as popular as it gets.”

Regardless of how one might anticipate DeYoung’s response, it’s understandable given his loyalty to Styx. He is championing its legacy and prefers not to portray it in any other light than as a beloved band that enjoyed great success with chart-topping tunes. In reality, both The Cars and Styx had their moments of success, and ultimately, fans are only interested in the quality of the music they produce.

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2024-08-16 17:00