“We got run out of town with guns”: The Cars’ gig that got dramatically cut short
The energy spearheaded by The Cars is completely unmatched when looking back at the defining sounds of the 1970s and ’80s. Leading the new wave charge before anyone else, the band introduced a new entity that could parallel punk and pop and challenge their foundations, showing that catchy melodies and synth-driven productions could be a groundbreaking alternative.
During a time when it seemed completely impossible—and unreasonable—to attempt to blend the raw aggressiveness of punk with the smoother, more accessible sensibilities of pop, The Cars showed the way, fusing rock and guitar music with endearing melodies and creating a sound that was both authentic and honest but also polished and refined.
The band’s genesis stemmed from the members’ various connections to the New England scene. While drummer David Robinson brought his expertise from The Modern Lovers, Benjamin Orr and Rick Ocasek found in Jonathan Richman the perfect moniker for a band incorporating all of their influences. Although intrigue first exposed them to the world of folk and rock, it wasn’t long before they established their own sound.
What made the band so electric, particularly in the early days, was their chemistry. It’s not that difficult to share a dream or a vision with friends, but it’s certainly a challenge to turn that idea into reality. The Cars, however, seemed to hold the recipe for greatness already. Orr once said during an interview with Rolling Stone: “We got along famously.” Noting their seamless ability to get things done, he added: “It’s one of those things where you have to say nothing — it’s just there. And we just went on, kept going from state to state, doing our thing.”
The beginning was largely marked by a strong, unwavering bond between Ocasek and Orr, partially due to the ambition they shared but mostly because the chaos of the outside world often forced them even more inward into their tightly-knit dynamic. Being on the road and travelling through various cities also meant the anecdotes would come in thick and fast—like the time they got a visit from “a couple of guys with rifles”.
As Ocasek recalled: “Once we got run out of town with guns. Up in Alpena, Michigan, we were doing a gig in a bar, a deer-hunters’ hangout,” he said. Continuing: “After we played a few songs, a couple of guys with rifles came up and said, ‘We’re hunting deer up here, but we ain’t looking for you, dears. You guys get out!’ They made us leave town that night.”
Their time in Michigan might have been cut short, but the nature of The Cars’ impact on a grander scale can be anything but understated, as their music effectively spoke for itself, and their unique blend of rock and new wave paved the way for countless others to follow suit.
