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The New Cars


hbecstacy

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Hey folks, there was some discussion in another thread of a possible Cars reunion led by Todd Rundgren.

Turns out it's for real.

I'm in the mailing list for TR/Utopia bassist Kasim Sulton. His latest message, received this morning, included this:

"I guess it's safe to tell you all about the 'big announcement' now as most of you have put two and two together. I've accepted a position as the Bassist for a new incarnation of an old band ... The Cars! Currently being billed as "The New Cars". I know most of you are aware that Todd Rundgren has also signed on as the lead singer. Pretty cool huh?

We've already recorded some new songs and are scheduled to be touring all next year (2006).

The line up is as follows, Todd, myself, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawks and Prairie Prince. We're planning to record a live CD/DVD sometime after the new year and a possible TV appearance before Christmas.

So, thats what I've been alluding to for the past month or so and I'm really excited to be involved in this new project with a great bunch of guys.

I'm sure we'll be doing shows near you and this is one show you really don't want to miss.

I mean come on ... Todd and ME? Playing Cars songs? Hee hee!!!!  It'll be like hearing them for the first time!

As soon as the publicity shots from the photo session we did are approved, I'll be putting them up here ( www.KasimSulton.com)."

It's as much a Utopia reunion as a Cars reunion... but I guess this could be an interesting hybrid.

Your thoughts?

--Howard

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Hmmm...Prairie is in the Tubes, Jefferson Starship, Journey (on occasion), Todd Rundgren's live band, Magic Christian (Cyril Jordan's band in SF), and Blue Cheer (at the recent Chet Helms Tribal Stomp Fest)...and the Cars now? (And I'm probably leaving out several other bands.) He's definitely a drumming fool......

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JohnO makes a good point...Prairie is like an SF version of Warren Haynes, who plays guitar with The Dead, The Allman Bros. Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, leads his own band Govt. Mule, plays solo and also jams with anyone.

I wonder why they didn't get Cars drummer David Robinson? That would've added a bit more credibility to The Cars tag, although, as Marv points out, without Orr (now sadly impossible) and Ocasek, this is a new vehicle.

H

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Good to see the old bands back together.

If you haven't seen Peter Noone out live, you're missing a great concert. He's very entertaining and is true to the original Herman's Hermits. Good show! You can get a great video of Peter's band at www.kultur.com. Like I said very entertaining and the video is exactly like his live current concert. cool

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If Todd, Kasim, Elliot Easton, and Prairie Prince got together to play Raspberrie's songs and called themselves The New Raspberries

well.... news out of Zion, ILLINOIS says that Todd Rundgren's tour plans for 2007 is to hook up w/ Gary Klebe of Shoes & Jamie Hoover of Spongetones and do the whole Shoes catalog as Nu Shooz
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Today's message from Kasim Sulton:

"It seems I made a premature announcement in my recent newsletter...

 

The fact is, there are currently no definite plans for The New Cars to be touring next year.

 

We did record some new material, but beyond that, things are still being worked out.

 

I apologize for any confusion my misstatement caused.

 

Kasim"

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Speaking of Herman's Hermits...there are 2 versions out there now - one fronted by Peter Noone and another one that just has Barry, their original drummer - I think they're a 4 piece. They pretty much sound alike, although Noone is a more recognizable vocalist than the ringer that the second band is using.

This sort of nonsense happens in the UK all the time. There are 2 versions of The Searchers who tour regularly in the UK and Europe - The "original" Searchers (with John McNally plus Frank Allen and a couple of ringers....one of whom, Spencer James, was in First Edition (of "Beach Baby" fame)) and Mike Pender's Searchers, featuring, not surprisingly, Mr. Pender and 3 ringers. The two bands play pretty much the same material and almost sound exactly the same.

There were also two bands calling themselves The Hollies until recently. Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott got some sort of court order preventing their old bass player (Eric Haydock, I think) from using the name. With the recent death of their singer (ex-Move frontman) Carl Wayne, I'm not sure if there are any bands calling themselves The Hollies anymore.

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With that in mind, perhaps Scott McCarl can start a second version of Raspberries.The band will feature Scott on bass and lead vocals,Ric Ocasek on lead guitar, vocals, Prairie Prince on drums (he likes to keep busy) and Marvin Matthews on rhythm guitar and vocals (this will give them access to that all important Canadian market), .They could tour the U.K. and maybe even Spain (for Carmen Smalley).

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"Like an old familiar poem that still won't rhyme, I could get back to the place but not the time."

I think the line is pertinent for this thread albeit out of context of the song from which it is taken.

Anyone remember who wrote it and the song title? No googling, please, either ya know it or ya don't.

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I saw The Cars back in the early 80's and I'm hoping that the addition of Todd and Prairie adds some life to them. They played through their songs with technical accuracy but never stopped to recognize that they were playing in front of an audience. No banter, no deviations! I might as well have listened to the albums! At least Todd can get an audience excited and Prairie is in a totally different class of drummer! He's remarkable - I saw him when he was with The Tubes during their 80's heyday! Most of The Cars tunes never had any complicated percussion in them with the exception of the off-beat bass drum on "Touch And Go", compare that to playing "Talk To You Later" by The Tubes! I think Prairie will do just fine covering The Cars material. It's gotta be better than the recent Queen/Paul Rodgers rendition!

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AJ...I have to agree with you, although they are one of my favorite bands ,their live show did nothing for me. I saw them early on in their career, after the release of their first album. It was a great double bill with Cheap Trick. The Cars had zero on stage presence. I had wondered if they picked up some energy later in their career.But those first few studio albums...good stuff.

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