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In the late 1970s, The Cars found themselves touring alongside some of the era’s biggest rock acts. Yet, one band in particular-Styx-was a source of frustration for The Cars’ frontman, Ric Ocasek, who later spoke candidly about his dislike for the group.
Following the success of Styx’s albums The Grand Illusion (1977) and Pieces of Eight (1978), the band invited The Cars to open for them during their Pieces of Eight Tour and later the Paradise Theater tour. For The Cars, a rising new wave band from Boston with their debut album freshly released, this should have been a major opportunity. However, Ocasek found the experience anything but enjoyable.
“We played one gig with Styx, which I can’t f—ing handle,” Ocasek recalled in an interview. “All we did for two weeks after that was sing to each other in fake-operatic voices, back in the dressing room.” He contrasted this with their experience opening for Foreigner, noting that although he wasn’t a fan of Foreigner’s music either, the band members were friendly and even gave them a sound check-something Styx did not.
Ocasek also remarked that when opening for established bands like Styx, Foreigner, and Cheap Trick, The Cars noticed that the headliners’ fans often connected more with their music than with the main acts. This reportedly ruffled some feathers.
“We opened for about anybody in the beginning; we opened for bands that we really hated, like Styx,” Ocasek told Classic Rock magazine. “Most of those bands would go watch us on the side of the stage to see what the f— was going on.
And it seemed that the people were relating to us and not relating to them. So they got a little pissed.”
Despite the backstage tensions, the Styx tour helped propel The Cars’ debut album up the charts. Singles like “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and “Good Times Roll” all became hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Years later, Dennis DeYoung, Styx’s frontman, addressed Ocasek’s criticisms. He described The Cars as “very tasteful musicians” known for their “catchy pop tunes,” and suggested that resentment from established bands toward emerging acts was nothing new.
DeYoung dismissed the claim that Styx fans were hostile toward The Cars, calling it “the real knee slapper.” He explained, “We were as big as it gets and the idea that our fans were anything more than polite to them is ludicrous.”
Admitting he enjoyed The Cars’ music, DeYoung said he had watched part of one of their shows and found them more enjoyable to listen to than to watch. He concluded that jealousy between the bands was “silly” and that Styx “didn’t give them a second thought much less a first.”
He also gave a respectful nod to The Cars’ members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes.
Almost five decades later, both The Cars and Styx remain iconic bands of their time-each with their own loyal followings. While their backstage relationship may have been fraught, their music continues to resonate with fans across generations.