The tragic passing of Ric Ocasek – the singer, songwriter and producer of U.S. new wave outfit The Cars – has been widely mourned by the rock world. As well as his work with his own band, Ric’s influence as a producer was also widely acknowledged by those whose careers he helped steer. Weezer, whose 1994 self-titled, multi-platinum debut album (aka The Blue Album) he helmed, were one of the first acts to pay tribute to Ocasek following the news of his death on September 15 at his home in New York. In a collective statement issued on Twitter, the four-piece described Ocasek as their “friend and mentor” – acknowledging the band’s longstanding relationship which also included Ocasek’s work on their third LP, Green Album, in 2001. The weezer family is devastated by th...
