Benjamin Orr, former bassist and singer of the Cars, died late last night at his home in Atlanta (Oct. 3) from pancreatic cancer. He was 53.
Born Benjamin Orzechowski, the bassist and singer formed the Cars with singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek in Boston in 1976. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1978, and scored its greatest success during the new wave craze of the '80s. Among the band's biggest hits on The Billboard Hot 100 were "Drive" (No. 3, 1984), "Shake It Up" (No. 4, 1982), "You Might Think" (No. 7, 1984), "Tonight She Comes" (No. 7, 1986), "Magic" (No. 12, 1984), and "Let's Go" (No. 14, 1979).
In recent years, Orr had been playing in the band Big People with former 38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi, former Ted Nugent Band guitarist/vocalist Derek St. Holmes, and drummer Liberty DeVito of Billy Joel's band.
In May, it was reported that Orr was hospitalized with a growth on his pancreas. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and told he had approximately six months to live. Despite the prognosis, Orr continued to play with the band as often as possible, although its schedule had been cut back somewhat, according to the band's manager, Alliance Artists' Charlie Brusco.
"That voice that everyone knew from the Cars, and songs like 'Drive,' held up through it all," Brusco tells Billboard.com. "He was a great guy, a great human being. No matter what was going on, he was the kind of guy who always found a way to smile and have a good time."
St. Holmes echoed that sentiment, telling Billboard.com that Orr was "as nice as they come. He was a very gentle, very special friend." St. Holmes also said that Orr always wanted to play with the band. "He was a trooper. He told me, 'When I fall down and I can't get up again, that's when I'll stop.' And, more or less, that's what it took."
Orr, who had lived in Atlanta for about a year-and-a-half, was with his fiancee julie Snider and members of his band at the time of his death. He is survived by his 5-year-old son, Ben, from a previous marriage. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Big People has previously been scheduled to play a benefit Friday (Oct. 6) in Atlanta for the March Of Dimes, and St. Holmes said the band will honor the commitment in Orr's honor, "because that's the way Ben would have wanted it." Big People recorded almost every one of its live shows in the past year, and a live CD is already in the works, according to St. Holmes.
Brusco added that there is a strong possibility some sort of public memorial will be held within the next few months in Atlanta, and noted that he's already heard from members of several bands, including Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Kansas, who were friends of Orr's, and want to be involved. Arrangements for a memorial in Orr's hometown of Cleveland are also underway.
Orr reunited with his former Cars bandmates during the summer to tape the documentary portion of "The Cars Live" DVD, due Nov. 1 from Rhino Home Video. In the wake of Orr's death, Rhino has pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the title to the National Pancreas Foundation.
Born Benjamin Orzechowski, the bassist and singer formed the Cars with singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek in Boston in 1976. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1978, and scored its greatest success during the new wave craze of the '80s. Among the band's biggest hits on The Billboard Hot 100 were "Drive" (No. 3, 1984), "Shake It Up" (No. 4, 1982), "You Might Think" (No. 7, 1984), "Tonight She Comes" (No. 7, 1986), "Magic" (No. 12, 1984), and "Let's Go" (No. 14, 1979).
In recent years, Orr had been playing in the band Big People with former 38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi, former Ted Nugent Band guitarist/vocalist Derek St. Holmes, and drummer Liberty DeVito of Billy Joel's band.
In May, it was reported that Orr was hospitalized with a growth on his pancreas. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and told he had approximately six months to live. Despite the prognosis, Orr continued to play with the band as often as possible, although its schedule had been cut back somewhat, according to the band's manager, Alliance Artists' Charlie Brusco.
"That voice that everyone knew from the Cars, and songs like 'Drive,' held up through it all," Brusco tells Billboard.com. "He was a great guy, a great human being. No matter what was going on, he was the kind of guy who always found a way to smile and have a good time."
St. Holmes echoed that sentiment, telling Billboard.com that Orr was "as nice as they come. He was a very gentle, very special friend." St. Holmes also said that Orr always wanted to play with the band. "He was a trooper. He told me, 'When I fall down and I can't get up again, that's when I'll stop.' And, more or less, that's what it took."
Orr, who had lived in Atlanta for about a year-and-a-half, was with his fiancee julie Snider and members of his band at the time of his death. He is survived by his 5-year-old son, Ben, from a previous marriage. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Big People has previously been scheduled to play a benefit Friday (Oct. 6) in Atlanta for the March Of Dimes, and St. Holmes said the band will honor the commitment in Orr's honor, "because that's the way Ben would have wanted it." Big People recorded almost every one of its live shows in the past year, and a live CD is already in the works, according to St. Holmes.
Brusco added that there is a strong possibility some sort of public memorial will be held within the next few months in Atlanta, and noted that he's already heard from members of several bands, including Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Kansas, who were friends of Orr's, and want to be involved. Arrangements for a memorial in Orr's hometown of Cleveland are also underway.
Orr reunited with his former Cars bandmates during the summer to tape the documentary portion of "The Cars Live" DVD, due Nov. 1 from Rhino Home Video. In the wake of Orr's death, Rhino has pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the title to the National Pancreas Foundation.
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