Founder and frontman of iconic new wave outfit The Cars, Ric Ocasek, is confirmed to have died at the age of 75.
As Pitchfork reports, the New York Police Department have confirmed the Baltimore songwriter was found in his bed and pronounced dead at the scene.
After forming in Boston in 1976, The Cars released their self-titled debut album in 1978 which included three of the band's biggest hits - Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl and Good Times Roll.
Their second LP, 1979's Candy-O, was the band's most successful album in Australia and peaked at #7 on the local charts.
Ocasek also released a number of solo albums prior to The Cars' split in 1988, with his first being 1982's Beatitude.
While The Cars briefly reformed in 2011 with their first album in 24 years, Move Like This, Ocasek also produced works for a number of big acts including Weezer, No Doubt, Suicide and Bad Religion.
The songwriter also produced the title track for Sydney group Waikiki's 2002 EP, New Technology.
Ocasek and The Cars were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2018.
Tributes have begun to flow on social media following news of Ocasek's passing.
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