The New Cars

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The New Cars are a supergroup formed in 2005 around members of the popular 1970s/1980s new wave band The Cars. The band is composed of Todd Rundgren, drummer Prairie Prince, Kasim Sulton, and original Cars members Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton. The band performs The Cars' classic songs, Rundgren's solo work, and some new material.

The current status of The New Cars is unclear. Rundgren has resumed his solo career, and The New Cars have not performed any shows since September of 2007. However, the band's website is still occasionally updated.

History

In 2005, rumors began circulating that Easton and Hawkes would be teaming with Todd Rundgren in a new Cars lineup, with Rundgren replacing Cars singer Ric Ocasek. The rumors turned out to be true, with the revamped lineup calling themselves The New Cars. Two regular Rundgren collaborators, bassist Kasim Sulton and drummer Prairie Prince, replaced the late bassist Benjamin Orr and drummer David Robinson in the new lineup. (Robinson, who retired from the music world years before, was invited to join the group but amicably declined.)

On May 9, 2006, a greatest hits/live collection, The New Cars: It's Alive!, was released on Eleven Seven Music. The album included classic Cars songs recorded live plus new studio tracks. The band's first tour, the summer Roadrage Tour with Blondie kicked off May 12 in Mississippi.

Rundgren has referred to the project as "an opportunity ... for me to pay my bills, play to a larger audience, work with musicians I know and like, and ideally have some fun for a year." Ocasek, who has opted out of any possibilities of a reunion, gave his blessing to Easton and Hawkes, saying, "I want Elliot and Greg to be happy." On April 17, 2006, he appeared on The Colbert Report and was asked if there was anyone he wanted to put "on notice". He answered "Todd Rundgren".

In the media

The New Cars performed "Not Tonight" on the June 6, 2006 episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Tour

The spring leg of the 2006 tour had to be cut short because Easton had broken his collarbone on June 5th^[1] and was playing in great pain. Despite the fact the album only sold 16,000 units, a winter leg of the tour ran from November through early December. The tour, titled Road Rage Winter Tour was a theatre tour of venues much smaller than their previous arena tour. Blondie did not participate in this tour, as Rundgren apparently was not in favor of the idea in the first place, and the only reason the two shared a tour was because they both had the same management company.

Band members

• Todd Rundgren – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2005–present)
• Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Greg Hawkes – keyboards, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Kasim Sulton – bass guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Prairie Prince – drums, percussion (2005–present)

Discography

• It's Alive! (2006)

References

External links

• Official website
• Official MySpace Site
• VH1 Artist Page
• MTV Artist Page
• AOL Artist Page
• Billboard Artist Page
• Rolling Stones Artist Page
• Asbury Park Press Interview with Kasim Sulton