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Let's Go!: Benjamin Orr and The Cars
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November 14, 2018
Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars
This was a well-researched book about The Cars and Benjamin Orr, born Orzechowski aka “Benny 11-Letters” because so many of his friends and acquaintances had trouble pronouncing his name. He was almost universally liked as he was making his way in the music business, seemingly a genuinely nice and caring man. Ben was also quite talented when it came to singing and drumming, and learning other musical instruments from what many of his friends had to say in the book. You certainly could use a scorecard for this one to keep up with all of the band incarnations and band member rotations. I was amazed at the number of times the name of the band changed, and it didn’t always depend on whether any members were moved in or out. There were some interesting anecdotes in the book of things that happened to the band members.
The Grasshoppers dissolved in 1965. Orr joined a band called The Proof Sets, playing for about 6 months before changing the name to The Mixed Emotions, playing extensively all over Ohio. Then that band ended in 1967. Then they were The Rush for a while. Then near the end of 1967 several of them got back together again and became the band Colours with Ben and Wayne Weston, John Matuska, and a new manager, a local promoter named Bob Bobchuck They stayed busy with gigs and even cut a single, “You Came into My Life.” Things were going well and they had some interest from Roulette Records in Florida. They were driving down to meet with them when they called home and got a message that Ben had to fly back immediately because he’d been drafted. Everything stopped right then. It took a year before he could get out on a hardship discharge, being the only son. By this time it was 1969 and he had mixed feelings about a music career, as he’d be starting all over basically.
I do however confess to being a great fan of The Cars back in the day, I just loved them and listened all the time. I was surprised to learn in the book that Ric Ocasek also modified his name. It was Richard Otcasek struggling as a draftsman for Ohio Bell, starting out. He also had a band called ID Nirvana he formed in 1967. He met Ben in 1968. They started playing together after Orr joined the band, and they began opening for shows for such Ohio notables as The Bob Seger System, Alice Cooper, The Lemon Pipers and The Strawberry Alarm Clock. To make ends meet, Ric also managed a clothing store called Family Britches, hiring Ben too. They would later become The Cars and famous, The rest is in the book and history. This would be a good read for fans of The Cars or Ben Orr. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Joe Milliken, and the publisher for my fair review.
Rowman & Littlefield 216
Pub: Nov 11th, 2018
3.5 of 5 Stars
See on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
This was a well-researched book about The Cars and Benjamin Orr, born Orzechowski aka “Benny 11-Letters” because so many of his friends and acquaintances had trouble pronouncing his name. He was almost universally liked as he was making his way in the music business, seemingly a genuinely nice and caring man. Ben was also quite talented when it came to singing and drumming, and learning other musical instruments from what many of his friends had to say in the book. You certainly could use a scorecard for this one to keep up with all of the band incarnations and band member rotations. I was amazed at the number of times the name of the band changed, and it didn’t always depend on whether any members were moved in or out. There were some interesting anecdotes in the book of things that happened to the band members.
The Grasshoppers dissolved in 1965. Orr joined a band called The Proof Sets, playing for about 6 months before changing the name to The Mixed Emotions, playing extensively all over Ohio. Then that band ended in 1967. Then they were The Rush for a while. Then near the end of 1967 several of them got back together again and became the band Colours with Ben and Wayne Weston, John Matuska, and a new manager, a local promoter named Bob Bobchuck They stayed busy with gigs and even cut a single, “You Came into My Life.” Things were going well and they had some interest from Roulette Records in Florida. They were driving down to meet with them when they called home and got a message that Ben had to fly back immediately because he’d been drafted. Everything stopped right then. It took a year before he could get out on a hardship discharge, being the only son. By this time it was 1969 and he had mixed feelings about a music career, as he’d be starting all over basically.
I do however confess to being a great fan of The Cars back in the day, I just loved them and listened all the time. I was surprised to learn in the book that Ric Ocasek also modified his name. It was Richard Otcasek struggling as a draftsman for Ohio Bell, starting out. He also had a band called ID Nirvana he formed in 1967. He met Ben in 1968. They started playing together after Orr joined the band, and they began opening for shows for such Ohio notables as The Bob Seger System, Alice Cooper, The Lemon Pipers and The Strawberry Alarm Clock. To make ends meet, Ric also managed a clothing store called Family Britches, hiring Ben too. They would later become The Cars and famous, The rest is in the book and history. This would be a good read for fans of The Cars or Ben Orr. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Joe Milliken, and the publisher for my fair review.
Rowman & Littlefield 216
Pub: Nov 11th, 2018
3.5 of 5 Stars
See on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
February 1, 2020
I grew up in the 80s and the Cars were my favorite band, but I always felt like I was the only kid in the world whose favorite member of the Cars was Ben Orr. I thought Ben's bass playing was underrated and his vocals were not featured on enough songs in the Cars catalog. I even met Ben in the 1990s when he was playing a concert with his band "ORR" at South Station in Boston. Very randomly, as I got off the train for the concert, I saw Ben all by himself tuning his guitar. I approached him (calling him "Mr. Orr") and told him I was a huge Cars fan. He was super-nice and signed an autograph which I still have framed in my house. When Ben died of cancer, I was devastated. All of this is to say, even though he was one of my rock heroes, I knew very little about Ben Orr and thought no one was a fan but me. Enter Joe Milliken. Mr. Milliken has spent 11 years researching this book and he takes you from Ben's childhood as "Benny 11 letters" all the way to his untimely death. The detail is fascinating and the book really takes off when Ben and Ric Ocasek form the Cars. I try not to give an excessive amount of 5 star reviews, but I give "Let's Go" 5 stars because it filled a void for me. Ric Ocasek was always the face of the Cars and Ben sort of faded into the background. Milliken does a real service by trying to shine some light on a rock star who was just as important in the Cars' meteoric success. If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, love the Cars, or just want to read about a guy who succeeded beyond his wildest rock dreams and didn't let that stardom change him, pick up this book. My 2 minute interaction with Ben Orr seemed very typical, based on Milliken's research. Ben Orr was a good guy and remained a good guy, even when the Cars became a Hall of Fame-caliber band with the fame to match. I hope Milliken's book lights a fire under someone to release all of Ben's songs with one of his final bands, ORR. And I want to thank Mr. Milliken personally for all of the time and effort he put into this book. Clearly I am not the only guy in the world who thought that Ben Orr was a phenomenal rock star.
October 16, 2018
Any retrospective on the late 1970s and 1980s HAS to include some focus on the new wave rock legends, The Cars. A debut album that stayed on the charts for 139 consecutive weeks, winners of the first MTV “Video of the Year” award in 1984, creators of what would become the haunting signature song for Live Aid (“Drive”) — they are more than deserving of their 2018 induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
While all five guys generally resisted the limelight, bassist Benjamin Orr was arguably the most sought-after — and most private — of the band members. Blessed with versatile vocal chords, unwavering musicianship, and an irresistible magnetism, fans of Benjamin ‘the rock star’ fell hard and with no hope of recovery. But once the show was over and the lights went down, Benjamin flipped a switch. He was a normal guy; he avoided photographers, shunned interviews, and led a low-key lifestyle in the quiet, upscale town of Weston, Massachusetts. Of course, all of this added an air of mystery to his reputation. When he succumbed to cancer in October, 2000, at the age of 53, it seemed the curtain had closed on his legacy forever.
First-time author (and long-time rock journalist) Joe Milliken has spent the last eleven years researching Ben’s life in an attempt to pull back that curtain with his biography Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars, due to be released on November 11, 2018. The book follows Benjamin through others’ eyes as he pursued his rock-and-roll dreams from his happy days as a teen star in Cleveland to the open-minded bars of Boston, to the comforting arms of Atlanta — not ruthlessly, but with a humility and steely determination that left those around him in awe.
As a devoted fan of Benjamin Orr, I’ve been researching and writing about him on my personal blog for about three years. When I discovered that this book was in the works, I felt protective of Ben’s privacy and I’ll admit… I was nervous. What if the author revealed information that was too personal? What if he told things that were not fair to tell, with Ben gone and not able to defend himself? Would the author’s sources be credible? And what if… what if I just… didn’t like the book?
My fears were unfounded on all fronts.
The first thing that impressed me was the writing style. The author uses a distinctive technique where he introduces a player in Ben’s life and then lets that person fill in the narrative with his or her quote. I thought it might be jarring to have the flow stop and another voice come in but it’s really so perfect. It’s truly like a camera cuts to the significant person and you hear them talking about Ben, like a documentary rather than a novel.
Having Benjamin’s loved ones tell about him in their own words is brilliant. I felt my heart and mind busily rearranging my personal ‘mosaic’ of Ben, having it grow in clarity and color, adding texture, as I read their stories. It is such a perfect format to document the life of a man who never enjoyed talking much about himself. The result is this masculine and tender, very respectful, very REAL painting of who Benjamin was.
And of course, by ‘rearranging my mosaic’ I mean that I learned a lot of new things about Ben, especially about his early years and what he was like behind-the-scenes. I also connected some dots, confirmed some things I had suspected from my research, and enjoyed some surprising stories.
While I won’t tell you exactly who is in the book, I was impressed with the long roster of interviewees, including Ben’s former bandmates, record executives, iconic photographers, media personnel, key women in his life, and friends who had known him intimately.
Another element that I love about this book is that there is no ‘tell all’ mentality anywhere to be found. The author skillfully balances the heady experiences of a world-famous rock star with the reality of a deeply private, kind-hearted and loyal man. For example, I can see in places where he’s walked that fine line of honoring Ben and respecting his relationships while maintaining the honesty of his attraction to and of other women. Or the struggles Ben faced with the dissolution of The Cars and finding his way back to the stage. Milliken is gentle with the truth, letting the other voices tell their story and leaving it up to the reader to ‘read between the lines’ if they are so inclined.
When asked how he made decisions about what to leave in and what to take out, Milliken said, “Every time I came to a place where I had to walk the line of Ben’s privacy, I had his son in my head. I would ask myself, ‘What would young Ben think of this?'” It seems to have been the perfect measuring stick.
Equally as thrilling as the informative text is the abundance of photos! There are more than 30 black-and-white photographs woven through the chapters, the majority of them new to the public. Such a treat! The book also includes a timeline of bands, a selected index, and a list of everyone the author interviewed over the years.
If there is any drawback to the book, it is that all of my questions were not answered. But how could they be? My curiosity goes way beyond obsession (what IS the story with that one bracelet, anyway???). It’s an impossible task, short of putting Ben’s life under a microscope, which I believe he would have hated.
Others may feel like this book is not ‘sensationalistic’ enough. But the fans… the ones who truly love Benjamin… they will be so moved at the way the author has protected his memory and his legacy. His son, the women in his life, his dear friends, his former bandmates… any and all of the people in those categories… I believe they will finish the book and hug it to their chests and be SO happy at what’s been done for Ben.
Just like me.
While all five guys generally resisted the limelight, bassist Benjamin Orr was arguably the most sought-after — and most private — of the band members. Blessed with versatile vocal chords, unwavering musicianship, and an irresistible magnetism, fans of Benjamin ‘the rock star’ fell hard and with no hope of recovery. But once the show was over and the lights went down, Benjamin flipped a switch. He was a normal guy; he avoided photographers, shunned interviews, and led a low-key lifestyle in the quiet, upscale town of Weston, Massachusetts. Of course, all of this added an air of mystery to his reputation. When he succumbed to cancer in October, 2000, at the age of 53, it seemed the curtain had closed on his legacy forever.
First-time author (and long-time rock journalist) Joe Milliken has spent the last eleven years researching Ben’s life in an attempt to pull back that curtain with his biography Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars, due to be released on November 11, 2018. The book follows Benjamin through others’ eyes as he pursued his rock-and-roll dreams from his happy days as a teen star in Cleveland to the open-minded bars of Boston, to the comforting arms of Atlanta — not ruthlessly, but with a humility and steely determination that left those around him in awe.
As a devoted fan of Benjamin Orr, I’ve been researching and writing about him on my personal blog for about three years. When I discovered that this book was in the works, I felt protective of Ben’s privacy and I’ll admit… I was nervous. What if the author revealed information that was too personal? What if he told things that were not fair to tell, with Ben gone and not able to defend himself? Would the author’s sources be credible? And what if… what if I just… didn’t like the book?
My fears were unfounded on all fronts.
The first thing that impressed me was the writing style. The author uses a distinctive technique where he introduces a player in Ben’s life and then lets that person fill in the narrative with his or her quote. I thought it might be jarring to have the flow stop and another voice come in but it’s really so perfect. It’s truly like a camera cuts to the significant person and you hear them talking about Ben, like a documentary rather than a novel.
Having Benjamin’s loved ones tell about him in their own words is brilliant. I felt my heart and mind busily rearranging my personal ‘mosaic’ of Ben, having it grow in clarity and color, adding texture, as I read their stories. It is such a perfect format to document the life of a man who never enjoyed talking much about himself. The result is this masculine and tender, very respectful, very REAL painting of who Benjamin was.
And of course, by ‘rearranging my mosaic’ I mean that I learned a lot of new things about Ben, especially about his early years and what he was like behind-the-scenes. I also connected some dots, confirmed some things I had suspected from my research, and enjoyed some surprising stories.
While I won’t tell you exactly who is in the book, I was impressed with the long roster of interviewees, including Ben’s former bandmates, record executives, iconic photographers, media personnel, key women in his life, and friends who had known him intimately.
Another element that I love about this book is that there is no ‘tell all’ mentality anywhere to be found. The author skillfully balances the heady experiences of a world-famous rock star with the reality of a deeply private, kind-hearted and loyal man. For example, I can see in places where he’s walked that fine line of honoring Ben and respecting his relationships while maintaining the honesty of his attraction to and of other women. Or the struggles Ben faced with the dissolution of The Cars and finding his way back to the stage. Milliken is gentle with the truth, letting the other voices tell their story and leaving it up to the reader to ‘read between the lines’ if they are so inclined.
When asked how he made decisions about what to leave in and what to take out, Milliken said, “Every time I came to a place where I had to walk the line of Ben’s privacy, I had his son in my head. I would ask myself, ‘What would young Ben think of this?'” It seems to have been the perfect measuring stick.
Equally as thrilling as the informative text is the abundance of photos! There are more than 30 black-and-white photographs woven through the chapters, the majority of them new to the public. Such a treat! The book also includes a timeline of bands, a selected index, and a list of everyone the author interviewed over the years.
If there is any drawback to the book, it is that all of my questions were not answered. But how could they be? My curiosity goes way beyond obsession (what IS the story with that one bracelet, anyway???). It’s an impossible task, short of putting Ben’s life under a microscope, which I believe he would have hated.
Others may feel like this book is not ‘sensationalistic’ enough. But the fans… the ones who truly love Benjamin… they will be so moved at the way the author has protected his memory and his legacy. His son, the women in his life, his dear friends, his former bandmates… any and all of the people in those categories… I believe they will finish the book and hug it to their chests and be SO happy at what’s been done for Ben.
Just like me.
September 26, 2019
Joe Milliken spent 11 years working on this book, but the words aren't his.
Instead, the story of Benjamin Orzechowski is told by family, friends and peers. Joe merely serves as your tour guide; ensuring chronology and clarity along the way.
But 'merely' is a misnomer. What he actually does is reconcile the inherently-human trait of faulty memories and vague recollections from years past with actual events, moments and circumstances, all the while dealing with... what turns out to be... an emotionally-charged story about a man long-passed, who placed high value on privacy; especially with the intimacy of the people he allowed into his life. So, no big whoop, right Joey? (Bostonian accent inferred)
That was an unexpected element for me and it was the first of many in this book.
As it turns out, nearly everyone contributing to this story (and it's a considerable number) all convey an emotional connection; some strong, some slight. But even the retelling of what would ordinarily be mundane circumstances, retained connected feelings and perceptions.
It's obvious Benjamin Orzechowski had an effect on people.
Every so often, the world gives us people who are very charismatic: Some are gracious and unpretentious, some are complete jerks. And everyone who comes in contact with either of them are permanently affected. Benjamin Orr: Bassist, vocalist, co-founder and star power behind legendary New Wave artists The Cars... was very much the former.
Orr went against type: Famous, admired by his peers and adored by his fans. And with the latter, his draw is practically legendary. Nearly 20 years after his death, there remains a dedicated fan base, and it continues to grow.
In public, Benjamin Orr was soft-spoken and, to some, he even appeared aloof. But these traits hid who he really was. In reality, Orr was energizing and profoundly loyal to people. He was "That Guy," the one that would give you the proverbial shirt off his back-guy. And to more people than you probably imagine, Orr was simply known as "Benny," and to those people, he remained Benny long after The Cars broke into international stardom.
So here is another unexpected element: The Rock Star... who wasn't. It's this element that puts Joe's book on a different playing field from those other Rock biographies. It's a worthy investment of curiosity. It keeps you reading.
There are unexpected elements here, but I'll leave you to discover those yourself; they're worth it.
I do want to touch on other thing, though.
An author can do an exceptional job of allowing others to tell a story, as Joe Milliken does here. But, c'mon... no one spends 11 years getting this close to a story like Benjamin Orr without being affected.
He was. How... is for you to find out.
But for me, it was the best part.
Instead, the story of Benjamin Orzechowski is told by family, friends and peers. Joe merely serves as your tour guide; ensuring chronology and clarity along the way.
But 'merely' is a misnomer. What he actually does is reconcile the inherently-human trait of faulty memories and vague recollections from years past with actual events, moments and circumstances, all the while dealing with... what turns out to be... an emotionally-charged story about a man long-passed, who placed high value on privacy; especially with the intimacy of the people he allowed into his life. So, no big whoop, right Joey? (Bostonian accent inferred)
That was an unexpected element for me and it was the first of many in this book.
As it turns out, nearly everyone contributing to this story (and it's a considerable number) all convey an emotional connection; some strong, some slight. But even the retelling of what would ordinarily be mundane circumstances, retained connected feelings and perceptions.
It's obvious Benjamin Orzechowski had an effect on people.
Every so often, the world gives us people who are very charismatic: Some are gracious and unpretentious, some are complete jerks. And everyone who comes in contact with either of them are permanently affected. Benjamin Orr: Bassist, vocalist, co-founder and star power behind legendary New Wave artists The Cars... was very much the former.
Orr went against type: Famous, admired by his peers and adored by his fans. And with the latter, his draw is practically legendary. Nearly 20 years after his death, there remains a dedicated fan base, and it continues to grow.
In public, Benjamin Orr was soft-spoken and, to some, he even appeared aloof. But these traits hid who he really was. In reality, Orr was energizing and profoundly loyal to people. He was "That Guy," the one that would give you the proverbial shirt off his back-guy. And to more people than you probably imagine, Orr was simply known as "Benny," and to those people, he remained Benny long after The Cars broke into international stardom.
So here is another unexpected element: The Rock Star... who wasn't. It's this element that puts Joe's book on a different playing field from those other Rock biographies. It's a worthy investment of curiosity. It keeps you reading.
There are unexpected elements here, but I'll leave you to discover those yourself; they're worth it.
I do want to touch on other thing, though.
An author can do an exceptional job of allowing others to tell a story, as Joe Milliken does here. But, c'mon... no one spends 11 years getting this close to a story like Benjamin Orr without being affected.
He was. How... is for you to find out.
But for me, it was the best part.
June 30, 2021
This will be a long review as I treasure this book so much.
I have been a fan of The Cars since I first heard their music & a huge fan of Benjamin Orr since I saw him perform Let's Go on a music video with The Cars. The B Bomb had exploded. The late legendary Benjamin Orr (born Benjamin Orzechowski) was the co-founder, co-lead singer, and bassist of the famous band The Cars. Benjamin possessed not only a phenomenal voice, incredible range and warmth to his tone, perfect pitch and delivery, he possessed such magnificent charisma which is shown with his breathtakingly extraordinary stage presence, Benjamin had a mesmerizing yet enigmatic personality and we cannot avoid mentioning his truly stunning striking good looks. (I apologize if I am gushing)
Benjamin also had oodles of style, the way he dressed and in some way he was always evolving new looks and somehow looked always cool even 40 years later on.
Yet there are there is not much known about the personal life of this musician, the man behind those alluring performances and THAT voice, in fact even if you search everywhere you will rarely get to hear Benjamin actually talk in a band interview or hear him comment much in a radio interview. He was a man that stayed so private, although always known to be kind to his fans. He was an enigma and so when I heard early this year that there was a biography about Benjamin I was thrilled, but then I felt concern as I read some biographies that do not show respect to musicians who have passed away. So then I read and watched interviews with the author Joe Milliken and became aware that this book was indeed a labour of love and took so very many years to write and all the effort and time he put into researching his book in order to get his close friends and band members to trust Joe to share their memories of Benjamin (11 years of hard work and effort) and this made me happily place my order for this book and not a day goes by that I do not pick it up, to read or to fact check for my Facebook page called Benjamin Orr _Electric Angel Rock and Roller
or for my Youtube channel with the same name. I love this biography and love the photos of Benjamin in this book, I love the stories his loved ones, his close friends share and how much information is in this biography. I read this book in one sitting till the early hours of the morning and dawn arrived (to my surprise as I did not notice time passing) as I could not stop reading, this is how involved I became in this wonderful book and life of a true musical legend and I have to add I was very tired before I started to read and wide awake when I got into the first chapter. This is how the book affected me.
I do regret though that Ric Ocasek (RIP) and Elliot Easton did not become involved and declined to communicate with Joe for this biography and would like to thank David Robinson and Greg Hawkes for sharing their memories of Benjamin in this book. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of Benjamin's friends, loved ones who shared their wonderful thoughts and memories of him so generously.
I feel even more respect for Benjamin, the musician, the man and his kindness after reading this biography and I love how this also showed that Benjamin was a human being with some faults and that he was indeed complex. However his innate kindness came through the stories and memories told and of course his intrinsic drive to become a successful musician, his hard working ethics, his incredible talent, his immense drive, his even-tempered approach to his different roles in various bands, his unflappable way of adapting to change his role and instrument in each band of his career, his calm nature, gentleness and love for animals were something I admire greatly.
I found it difficult to read the last pages and cried a lot but also am glad to have read of his incredible courage and his strength as he battled pancreatic cancer. The fact that he continued to perform until 20 days or so before his death shows what an incredible (in the words of his band brother) "tough cat" he was and this also made me feel even more in awe of the man Benjamin was.
I am grateful that the last photo of the book is from the Heartbeat City days as this made me smile after the tears.
I love the way the biography is arranged and how you can look for something with keywords in the wonderful index, the interview can be found easily as you can check by the name for the person, which makes this biography perfect for fact checking when publishing on a fan page or website or channel.
I think Joe has written such an insightful book and yet left us, the reader, with some feeling or sense of Benjamin's alluring mystery and I believe Benjamin would love that and smile about this as this was true to his nature.
I do wish there would be a second book with more photos as I believe there are more that Joe was given but perhaps the quality is not good enough to be printed but I would buy it in a minute. I guess I am greedy.
I recently read a post on Joe's Facebook page Let's Go: A Biography of The Cars' Benjamin Orr
In this post basically he wrote how he received his first royalty cheque , Joe wrote :" It has *never* been about the money for me, when I started this project back in the spring of 2007. I joke with my family about *not* figuring out what my "hourly wage" might be."
This once again made it clear to me how much love, respect and dedication Joe has for Benjamin.
Joe ,thank you for making more people aware of Benjamin Orr and for making sure we do not forget him and honour him all the best way we can. <3
I recommend this book not only to all fans of The Cars and of Benjamin but also to anyone who is interested in music , to see what it takes to become a musician in a famous band and anyone interested in the 60's 70's 80's music and of course also the 90's. It is also inspirational for anyone battling disease as it shows the courageous way Benjamin fought his cancer.
I have been a fan of The Cars since I first heard their music & a huge fan of Benjamin Orr since I saw him perform Let's Go on a music video with The Cars. The B Bomb had exploded. The late legendary Benjamin Orr (born Benjamin Orzechowski) was the co-founder, co-lead singer, and bassist of the famous band The Cars. Benjamin possessed not only a phenomenal voice, incredible range and warmth to his tone, perfect pitch and delivery, he possessed such magnificent charisma which is shown with his breathtakingly extraordinary stage presence, Benjamin had a mesmerizing yet enigmatic personality and we cannot avoid mentioning his truly stunning striking good looks. (I apologize if I am gushing)
Benjamin also had oodles of style, the way he dressed and in some way he was always evolving new looks and somehow looked always cool even 40 years later on.
Yet there are there is not much known about the personal life of this musician, the man behind those alluring performances and THAT voice, in fact even if you search everywhere you will rarely get to hear Benjamin actually talk in a band interview or hear him comment much in a radio interview. He was a man that stayed so private, although always known to be kind to his fans. He was an enigma and so when I heard early this year that there was a biography about Benjamin I was thrilled, but then I felt concern as I read some biographies that do not show respect to musicians who have passed away. So then I read and watched interviews with the author Joe Milliken and became aware that this book was indeed a labour of love and took so very many years to write and all the effort and time he put into researching his book in order to get his close friends and band members to trust Joe to share their memories of Benjamin (11 years of hard work and effort) and this made me happily place my order for this book and not a day goes by that I do not pick it up, to read or to fact check for my Facebook page called Benjamin Orr _Electric Angel Rock and Roller
or for my Youtube channel with the same name. I love this biography and love the photos of Benjamin in this book, I love the stories his loved ones, his close friends share and how much information is in this biography. I read this book in one sitting till the early hours of the morning and dawn arrived (to my surprise as I did not notice time passing) as I could not stop reading, this is how involved I became in this wonderful book and life of a true musical legend and I have to add I was very tired before I started to read and wide awake when I got into the first chapter. This is how the book affected me.
I do regret though that Ric Ocasek (RIP) and Elliot Easton did not become involved and declined to communicate with Joe for this biography and would like to thank David Robinson and Greg Hawkes for sharing their memories of Benjamin in this book. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of Benjamin's friends, loved ones who shared their wonderful thoughts and memories of him so generously.
I feel even more respect for Benjamin, the musician, the man and his kindness after reading this biography and I love how this also showed that Benjamin was a human being with some faults and that he was indeed complex. However his innate kindness came through the stories and memories told and of course his intrinsic drive to become a successful musician, his hard working ethics, his incredible talent, his immense drive, his even-tempered approach to his different roles in various bands, his unflappable way of adapting to change his role and instrument in each band of his career, his calm nature, gentleness and love for animals were something I admire greatly.
I found it difficult to read the last pages and cried a lot but also am glad to have read of his incredible courage and his strength as he battled pancreatic cancer. The fact that he continued to perform until 20 days or so before his death shows what an incredible (in the words of his band brother) "tough cat" he was and this also made me feel even more in awe of the man Benjamin was.
I am grateful that the last photo of the book is from the Heartbeat City days as this made me smile after the tears.
I love the way the biography is arranged and how you can look for something with keywords in the wonderful index, the interview can be found easily as you can check by the name for the person, which makes this biography perfect for fact checking when publishing on a fan page or website or channel.
I think Joe has written such an insightful book and yet left us, the reader, with some feeling or sense of Benjamin's alluring mystery and I believe Benjamin would love that and smile about this as this was true to his nature.
I do wish there would be a second book with more photos as I believe there are more that Joe was given but perhaps the quality is not good enough to be printed but I would buy it in a minute. I guess I am greedy.
I recently read a post on Joe's Facebook page Let's Go: A Biography of The Cars' Benjamin Orr
In this post basically he wrote how he received his first royalty cheque , Joe wrote :" It has *never* been about the money for me, when I started this project back in the spring of 2007. I joke with my family about *not* figuring out what my "hourly wage" might be."
This once again made it clear to me how much love, respect and dedication Joe has for Benjamin.
Joe ,thank you for making more people aware of Benjamin Orr and for making sure we do not forget him and honour him all the best way we can. <3
I recommend this book not only to all fans of The Cars and of Benjamin but also to anyone who is interested in music , to see what it takes to become a musician in a famous band and anyone interested in the 60's 70's 80's music and of course also the 90's. It is also inspirational for anyone battling disease as it shows the courageous way Benjamin fought his cancer.
December 8, 2020
It’s an excellent book, and was VERY tastefully done by its author. Joe Milliken put his heart and soul into it, while maintaining respect for Benjamin’s privacy, as well as his respect for the relationships he developed with those generous enough to offer an interview and photos. If you’re looking for a “gossipy tell-all,” this isn’t for you. If you’re looking for an accurate and tasteful account of Ben’s life, passion for music, selflessness and loyalty to those he knew and loved, then don’t hesitate for another second! Highly recommend! Happy reading!
April 17, 2020
This wonderful and extraordinarily written book tells of the totally gorgeous, humble, greatly talented and hugely missed Benjamin Orr from his beginnings all the way up to Rock and Roll fame from those who knew him. Intricately detailed in every page about Ben's life and his passion for music and a huge amount of photos throughout. I can't thank you enough Joe Milliken for all of your years of research to write this book in highest honor to Benjamin Orr!!
November 17, 2018
Sometimes you just want to read a book that brings back fond memories. This is one of them. As a much younger person, I loved The Cars. Fantastic music that you could sing along with, dance to, you know...just happy music.
This is the biography of the lead singer and made for an interesting tale.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is the biography of the lead singer and made for an interesting tale.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 20, 2018
What a great read that flows well and a great tribute to an amazing musician...Milliken tells the story of a rock star with respectful and dignity that family, friends and fans of the late great man should love..
October 12, 2021
A few amusing stories that showcase the playful side but mostly a timeline of dates & events that I found myself skimming over.
July 9, 2021
I gave this book 3 stars for a few different reasons. One, Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton, and Roy Thomas Baker refused to be interviewed for it. This, of course, was not the authors fault. Joe Milliken (the author) obviously worked hard on this book, and it seems he left no stone unturned in researching this book. Two, while I did enjoy learning about the early days of Ben Orr’s musical life, in a nutshell this book could be summarized with the statement “Ben Orr was really quiet, but he seemed like a really nice guy, and of course, he was crazy talented”. But a life devoid of amazing peaks and valleys of drama must, one would think, have been decently lived. I came away from this book thinking, Ben Orr loved and enjoyed his friends and family, and they, in return, felt the same about him. Finally, what this book made me do was go back and listen to all of The Cars music, which I’ve loved since I was a kid, and that’s not a bad thing!
June 27, 2021
Joe Milliken's eloquent tribute to the "other" lead singer of the Cars reads with incredible ease and fluidity. Milliken's research parallels his attention to detail. It is clear he truly enjoyed writing this biography. The darker, more difficult moments of Benjamin Orr's life are handled with grace and class. This is a reminder to find the Magic every day.
April 23, 2022
I would so love to give this more stars, but at the end, I still didn't feel much like I knew Ben Orr. He was a quiet guy and a really nice guy. That's about all you come away with. What was his tattoo of? I wanted to know. I never found out. And I would have loved to hear from his bandmates, but none of them participated in this book. The Cars remain my favorite band of all time, and Ben my favorite member. As such, I'll be satisfied with what I got in this book. Oh, and it could have included more pictures!
December 31, 2019
For someone as mysterious as Ben Orr was, this book does an admirable job of telling his story. However, the oral history format could have used more editing to create a better flow.
January 5, 2019
Let's Go!: Benjamin Orr and The Cars from Joe Milliken is the type of entertainment biography I would like to see more of. It is well-researched, it is less about gossip and more about the subject (in this case Benjamin Orr), and it respects what the subject would have likely wanted without being a shallow white-washing. Orr was a private person and so the lack of the types of things he didn't care to share during his life is, for me, respectful. If he never cared to share what he did after concerts, what makes a reader think they have some right to that knowledge? That isn't being a fan of Orr but being someone who doesn't, and didn't, respect him.
In telling Orr's story Milliken also tells the story of both the Cleveland and the Boston music scenes at the time. While some passages might seem less about Orr or even The Cars it serves to place what they were doing within the context of what was happening around them. And quite often what Orr had a hand in. No doubt some readers might prefer to read only about Orr and The Cars these contextualizing passages don't disrupt the flow of the story and instead add a depth that would otherwise be lacking since Orr was always involved with helping other artists succeed.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy entertainment biographies and fans of The Cars, or 80s music in general. If you read such biographies primarily for dirt or for the things the subject never wanted to share, this might be too respectful of a book for your taste. If you were in the Cleveland or Boston areas during these years I think you'll find even more to appreciate and likely have an even more intense trip down memory lane.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
In telling Orr's story Milliken also tells the story of both the Cleveland and the Boston music scenes at the time. While some passages might seem less about Orr or even The Cars it serves to place what they were doing within the context of what was happening around them. And quite often what Orr had a hand in. No doubt some readers might prefer to read only about Orr and The Cars these contextualizing passages don't disrupt the flow of the story and instead add a depth that would otherwise be lacking since Orr was always involved with helping other artists succeed.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy entertainment biographies and fans of The Cars, or 80s music in general. If you read such biographies primarily for dirt or for the things the subject never wanted to share, this might be too respectful of a book for your taste. If you were in the Cleveland or Boston areas during these years I think you'll find even more to appreciate and likely have an even more intense trip down memory lane.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
April 7, 2019
Joe Milliken has completed a magnificent telling of the life of Ben Orr.
As a 14 year old, I became mesmerised with Ben's voice and of course with all those incredible Cars songs. Like millions of others, I felt an odd kinship with this incredible artist, that has remained with me to this day.
I too am a musician, and I am now the exact age that Ben was when he passed away.
The beautiful anecdotes, stories and testimonies from his band mates, friends and family, have confirmed what I have unknowingly felt, for 40 years: Ben Orr was a gentle, kind, generous and very special person indeed.
Joe your book has connected me to one of my childhood idols, and I've had a very special experience reading it.
Thank you.
I urge anyone reading this to buy this book now.
It will warm your heart and inspire you.
Much Love, Richie Cirillo (Sydney, Australia)
As a 14 year old, I became mesmerised with Ben's voice and of course with all those incredible Cars songs. Like millions of others, I felt an odd kinship with this incredible artist, that has remained with me to this day.
I too am a musician, and I am now the exact age that Ben was when he passed away.
The beautiful anecdotes, stories and testimonies from his band mates, friends and family, have confirmed what I have unknowingly felt, for 40 years: Ben Orr was a gentle, kind, generous and very special person indeed.
Joe your book has connected me to one of my childhood idols, and I've had a very special experience reading it.
Thank you.
I urge anyone reading this to buy this book now.
It will warm your heart and inspire you.
Much Love, Richie Cirillo (Sydney, Australia)
December 4, 2020
Great Book! This book describes the life of one of The Cars best-kept secrets and what made them such a popular band of the 1980's. It is a classy and informative book about The Cars bassist/ singer Benjamin Orr. It includes many interviews from some of his closest friends and puts aside any ideas that he was anything but a kind, private human being who spent his life doing what he loved the most...playing music. This book includes never seen before pictures of his life before and after the Cars. No stifling tales of excess but a wonderful book of his life and what he loved. If you love The Cars music, this book is a must-have!!
December 10, 2020
I love this book written by Joe Milliken. At first I was a little concerned with the inclusion of views of so many people, but it didn't take long before I realised we were seeing the life of the brilliant Benjamin Orr through the eyes of these people (friends and colleagues) who knew him well, and the vast majority of them loved him. He was outrageously talented and startling beautiful, and, as a couple of his fellow Cars told us, he was the real rock star of the group and there are lots of videos available which show this to be so, but the band itself was a very tight, great unit musically. Anyway, thank you Joe Milliken. What a good read!
December 6, 2020
This book needed to be told. Benjamin Orr was way ahead of his time. He had the talent. He played numerous instruments, wrote music, had one of the most awesome voices in music, he could sing anything perfectly, very humble and best of all, to this day, the most gorgeous man to step up to the mike. You can't keep your eyes off him. Benjamin Orr is the ultimate rock star. He had it all. Joe Milliken, the author of this book did his homework. The Cars are my favorite band. This book blew me away with things I never knew about Ben Orr. It was worth the wait. A must read.
July 2, 2021
How does one write a biography of an intensely private person? One spends 11 years interviewing everyone who every came into contact with said person, and meticulously curates all of the quotes and remembrances into a full portrait. Let's Go! reads like a documentary. It also brilliantly shows how one person can have such a profound and different effect on each person they meet.
February 29, 2020
Was always interested in learning Ben's life story ever since becoming in love with The Cars and their music. Thankful for this biography on what comes across a very lovely, kind and generous man who never forgot his roots.
July 29, 2021
On November 6, 1981, a band from Boston released Shake It Up, their fourth studio album. I was 10 years old at the time and The Cars held a special place in my heart. They continue to be one of my all-time favorites with their straight ahead rock and roll blended with new wave and pop sensibilities. Benjamin Orr captured my attention because he was mysterious, had a voice unlike any other, and was easy on the eyes. Imagine my excitement when I discovered Let’s Go: Benjamin Orr and The Cars was going to be available.
Writing this book was a labor of love for author Joe Milliken who spent eleven years researching, writing, and interviewing well over a hundred people. The result is a complete account of Orr’s life as told by band members, music industry professionals, friends, and family. It chronicles Orr’s childhood and adolescence in Ohio where his talent, charisma, and no-nonsense attitude garnered attention and adoration at a young age after joining local bands such as The Cyclones, The Grasshoppers, and Colours. The formation and meteoric success of The Cars in Boston with Ric Ocasek after years of determination and experimentation is covered in detail. His solo career and super-group Big People is documented as well. The biography delves into his personal life without making it a juicy “tell-all”. There are stories that will make you chuckle, break your heart, and touch your soul.
Sadly, Benjamin Orr passed away before The Cars were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The “Elvis of Cleveland” should have enjoyed that and much more. His love of music and performing stayed with him until the end. That’s what impressed me the most. Let’s Go: Benjamin Orr and The Cars is thoughtfully written and done with respect. If you are a fan of The Cars or music in general, I suggest it to be added to your collection. Now, I’m going to “Think It Over” and listen to a few songs.
Writing this book was a labor of love for author Joe Milliken who spent eleven years researching, writing, and interviewing well over a hundred people. The result is a complete account of Orr’s life as told by band members, music industry professionals, friends, and family. It chronicles Orr’s childhood and adolescence in Ohio where his talent, charisma, and no-nonsense attitude garnered attention and adoration at a young age after joining local bands such as The Cyclones, The Grasshoppers, and Colours. The formation and meteoric success of The Cars in Boston with Ric Ocasek after years of determination and experimentation is covered in detail. His solo career and super-group Big People is documented as well. The biography delves into his personal life without making it a juicy “tell-all”. There are stories that will make you chuckle, break your heart, and touch your soul.
Sadly, Benjamin Orr passed away before The Cars were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The “Elvis of Cleveland” should have enjoyed that and much more. His love of music and performing stayed with him until the end. That’s what impressed me the most. Let’s Go: Benjamin Orr and The Cars is thoughtfully written and done with respect. If you are a fan of The Cars or music in general, I suggest it to be added to your collection. Now, I’m going to “Think It Over” and listen to a few songs.
September 25, 2022
I have been a Car’s fan for ages but knew little about them. Let's Go by Joe Milliken has been on my reading list for a few years, and it finally reached the top. My goal for reading the book was to learn more about the band and its history.
Joe spent years interviewing people and putting together a cohesive story about the prior history of Ben and Ric. What struck me was the tenacity of both men to keep trying and never give up. They certainly put in the effort. I also had a personal connection that I was unaware of. Their first Cars convert was at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where I graduated. That was interesting to learn.
I enjoyed this story, and Joe clearly spent a lot of time interviewing people. He also did an incredible job of telling the story from all these perspectives. I think this book is a great read and would be enjoyed by two groups of people. Car’s fans would certainly get a lot of insight into the history. Musicians would also be inspired by Ben and Ric’s incredible struggle to get a successful band. That made their success even sweeter.
Joe spent years interviewing people and putting together a cohesive story about the prior history of Ben and Ric. What struck me was the tenacity of both men to keep trying and never give up. They certainly put in the effort. I also had a personal connection that I was unaware of. Their first Cars convert was at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where I graduated. That was interesting to learn.
I enjoyed this story, and Joe clearly spent a lot of time interviewing people. He also did an incredible job of telling the story from all these perspectives. I think this book is a great read and would be enjoyed by two groups of people. Car’s fans would certainly get a lot of insight into the history. Musicians would also be inspired by Ben and Ric’s incredible struggle to get a successful band. That made their success even sweeter.
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