It’s funny how my little obsession can change courses. Since Joe Milliken brought me on board to assist him with the publishing and promoting of Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars, it’s still been ‘all Ben, all the time’, but rather than researching and gushing and pondering (and writing about it all), my main Ben focus has been doing everything I can to share the book (and through it, Ben’s legacy) with the world at large. This has been an honor and a delight to me, though it hasn’t left much time for me to immerse myself in just HIM, purely for pleasure.
After the Cleveland book event in January my schedule eased up a bit; not quite the pressure cooker it had been leading up to that party. Coincidentally, around that same time my sweet friend Ingrid (who also happens to be a research genius) pointed me in the direction of some photos of our man that I hadn’t seen before, and down the rabbit hole I went. Something about seeing rockstar Ben through new lenses has pulled me back into his bubble of beauty and I’m enjoying just sitting back and adoring him again.
I’ve posted my favorites of the photos on Facebook, but I realize not everyone who reads this blog uses social media. So here you go:
The pictures are outtakes of the Candy-O album cover photoshoot and were taken by Jeff Albertson. Here is the link to the full stash, which includes some great photos of the whole band, as well: Candy-O Outtakes. Aren’t they amazing?
Of course, thinking about posting those here on my blog reminded me of a few other things that I’ve put on Facebook and Twitter in the last few months, but that haven’t found their way to an article here yet. Brace yourself!
These pics below were taken by Peter Simon and were part of a series of photos labeled “CARS!” ca. 1984. I love them!
Oh, and this! A devoted fan found it last fall and posted it in one of the groups, and was very generous to give me permission to share it. Now, even though the interviewer comes across as a putz, and Ben seems a little out of sorts at the beginning, and there is that watermark to contend with… still, isn’t it fabulous? Live interview footage of Ben is SO rare! I am hugely thankful we have it.
And here are the most recent photos that I’ve posted over there: Ben from 1981. You know I love those Panorama days! And that jacket with the #11 domino on the sleeve? Squeeeee!
I do have a bunch of other photos on Facebook, as well as videos of things like The Cars’ appearances on Saturday Night Live. If you’re already part of the flow, come find me on my sweetpurplejune page! If you’re not signed up for Facebook, I hope you’ll consider giving it a try. There are lots of Ben delights to be had. In the meantime, I’ll strive to bring as much of him here as I can. The journey continues!
sweetpurplejune 
Thank you so much dear Donna, for sharing these 🙂 I am glad you are now getting some time to immerse yourself in the beauty of HIM 😉 I also think it is wonderful that you are taking so much time to promote and share Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars. I love this biography and it is truly a treasure. I highly recommend this to anyone who has ever gushed over Benjamin Orr ( and there must be so many 😉 ) and over any fan who would like to read about this charismatic but also enigmatic musician who I believe is a true legend. I was talking the other day to some musician friends about what makes a musician a legend. We all agree individuality , a sound you can immediately identify as being this person, charisma in spades, someone who is true to himself, does not imitate others but has a stage presences and sound that is purely their own and someone who gets a legacy of new fans even after he so sadly left us far too early. Warm regards, from Tasmania, Tia 🙂
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You nailed it, Tia! Ben is a true legend. Thank you for your kind words about both my blog and the book. Both are filled with lots of love.
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Dear Donna,
The love is something you can sense and it makes your blog and the book feel so very special because of this ❤
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I also appreciate your kind words, Tia… I’m so happy that you enjoy the book… it was truly a labor of love! Donna has helped me tremendously along the way and I always want her to be recognized as well. Thank you for all your support!
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PS I love those Panorama days and the photos
so much ❤
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Me, too!
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Hi Donna, I’m glad you are “finally” finding some time (should I feel guilty for taking up so much of it for the book? Ha Ha) to share some of your Ben treasures with your blog friends. You cease to amaze me with your Ben/Cars findings and I know that so many people – along with me – truly appreciate your continued efforts.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to again, thank you for all you have done in helping me to promote the “Let’s Go!” book. We are quite a team, if I do say so myself. Thanks for all you do and keep up the good “fun work” as we like to call it. 🙂
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Oh Joe — never feel guilty! You know I have considered it a thrill and a privilege to work for you — I wouldn’t trade it for the world. What an amazing, worthwhile, once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind adventure! Haha! Looking forward to whatever comes next. 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words, Donna. The privilege is also mine. But, you don’t work “for” me, you work “with” me! You contribute *so* much and we are a great team! I am also looking forward to the next adventure… the “Boston book event”… Let’s Go!
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Yep! Boston, here we come!
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Yes, indeed! We are going to ROCK the Boston book event, Donna!
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Hi Donna,
Thank you for this blog post and the pictures. I also get excited when new pictures of Ben and the Cars surface. In Joe Milliken’s book he refers to Ben’s picture in Life Magazine when Ben was a teenager. Does anyone have a copy of that picture or article? Thanks for all you do to keep us informed on all things Ben.
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Thanks for reading! Yes, I think I do have that… I’ll find it for you. 🙂
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Dear Donna, I was also wondering about this , it would be so great to see this 🙂
Warm regards
Tia
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It is from the July 30, 1965 issue of Life Magazine, page 56. You can see it here: https://books.google.com/books?id=OVMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56&source=gbs_toc_r&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false
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Oh Donna,
You are a marvel ❤ !!!!!! What a gem to see and read.
Here I was last night ( we have had another record breaking heatwave in Tasmania sadly still have 5 huge bushfires burning out of control since December/ January and 21 other bushfires and a new one nearish) unable to sleep (and breathe due to bad asthma from the intense smoke haze) and reading the wonderful biography Let’s Go for the 8th or so time and wondering if that photo or article was anywhere to be found. And now here I am midday on the next day feeling so tired and ill and you made my day when I found your link THANK YOU ❤
BTW going slightly off topic here Is it normal to keep re watching over and over for about 3 hours one particular part of a fanmade video (Benjamin Orr – Send Me by atsejam
one of my favourite of Ben’s songs anyway but watching it just because it is one of your favourite looks? I cannot get over how much appeal and charisma this man had (I am talking about the dark hair and expression at about .11 to 0.33 of this video and I literally just melt) This is the video and I presume that is what David Robinson means when he says : “Ben would literally melt them (the girls ) with his eyelids
and his ‘droopy’ expression ” on page 117 of the “Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars ?https://youtu.be/dXV0rXlGIbE
Warmest regards.
Tia
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Hahaha! Yes, Tia, your behavior is perfectly normal for a Ben fan! He is mesmerizing, magnetic… there seems to be no recovering from him once the ‘Benjamin bomb’ has gone off in our hearts and minds. Atsejam’s videos are wonderful and “Send Me” is a favorite of mine, too! I’m sorry to hear about the terrible conditions in Tasmania. Be safe, my friend, and stay in touch.
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Thank you dear Donna, it is a relief to know I am reacting like a normal Ben fan 🙂 as my husband was very concerned when I started muttering Benjamin Orr Benjamin Orr Benjamin Orr as a reply to something I did not like, he asked why I was muttering this like a spell, I just replied I was concentrating on something magical to blot out the negativity 😉 and it worked. But my better half is long suffering and understanding and actually asked us to have a Ben evening tonight and watch all the videos from Youtube ( he does not realize how many there are .. YET) Luckily as a musician he really loves Ben’s voice, performances and says he also considers him a legend. But I will have to stop myself from pressing pause when I am watching these videos with him and also trying to touch Ben on our huge TV screen LOL If you never hear from me again it means Gerry had me committed 😛 I feel thr
ough after being with me for over 3 decades he is used to my insane “fan girling” . So glad I found you and your page and this wonderful blog and website and all your amazing work, thank you dear Donna.
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Thank you, Tia! Sounds like we’re in similar situations. My hubby and I celebrated our 25th anniversary last summer, and he understands that I just have one of those obsessive personalities. He is very patient with me and the time I devote to trying to share Ben with the world. Hugs to Gerry — it takes a special kind of man! Haha!
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Indeed dear Donna, I feel our husbands must be pretty secure with us 😉 as some men would be feel threatened by our “obsessive ” or should this read ORRSESSIVE 😉 personality ? Gerry has always known how intense I can be when I feel emotional (but thankfully he says he loves that fire and passion I feel) . I think also because Gerry is a musician ( and I do love his music also incredibly much and am very proud of him and he knows this) he may understand the way music can make someone feel ( or is it the musician. 😉 ) Benjamin was one of the truly special magnetic charismatic musicians, not only blessed with those incredible looks, moves, that voice that could melt ice, his bass sound literally makes me want to weep with joy, his delivery, his inflection * sorry I am gushing again * But you understand. LEGEND. Gerry sees me on the computer, hears The Cars and Benjamin singing and he knows I am working with photos and lyrics and quietly walks away… How blessed am I ? I am so glad your hubby is so understanding. I mean I can imagine how much time the website, blog, podcasts, Facebook page and then the biography PR events etc must take. Hugs to you and your husband ( Gerry said hugs also )
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I love these wonderful words, and I am so thankful you have a man as awesome as Gerry. Hugs to you both, too!
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Appreciate your sharing and enthusiasm!
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Thanks so much!
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Your blog and FB page are my favorite places to visit!! 💙
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Oh wow — thank you so much! Welcome!
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