The J. Geils Band

The J. Geils Band
L-R: J. Geils, Magic Dick, Peter Wolf Not pictured: Seth Justman, Danny Klein, Stephen Jo Bladd
L-R: J. Geils, Magic Dick, Peter Wolf
Not pictured: Seth Justman, Danny Klein, Stephen Jo Bladd
Background information
OriginWorcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresRock, blues rock (early), new wave (late)
Years active1967–1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2015
LabelsAtlantic, EMI America
Past membersJ. Geils
Stephen Jo Bladd
Magic Dick
Danny Klein
Seth Justman
Peter Wolf
Websitejgeilsband.com

The J. Geils Band /ˈɡlz/ was an American rock band formed in 1967, in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist John "J." Geils. The original band members included vocalist Peter Wolf, harmonica and saxophone player Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz, drummer Stephen Bladd, vocalist/keyboardist Seth Justman, and bassist Danny Klein. Wolf and Justman served as principal songwriters. The band played R&B-influenced blues rock during the 1970s and soon achieved commercial success before moving toward a more mainstream radio-friendly sound in the early 1980s, which brought the band to its commercial peak. They performed a mix of cover songs of classic blues and R&B songs, along with original compositions written primarily by Wolf and Justman, as well as some group compositions written under the pseudonymous name Juke Joint Jimmy, representing compositions credited to the entire band as a whole. After Wolf left the band in 1983 to pursue a solo career, the band released one more album in 1984 with Justman on lead vocals, before breaking up in 1985.[1] Beginning in 1999, the band had several reunions until the death of its namesake, J. Geils, on April 11, 2017.

The band first released several Top 40 singles in the early 1970s, including a cover of the song "Lookin' For A Love" by The Valentinos (which reached No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972), as well as the single "Give It to Me" (No. 30 in 1973). Their biggest hits included "Must of Got Lost" (No. 12 in 1975), "Come Back" (No. 32 in 1980), "Love Stinks" (which reached No. 38 in 1980 and was featured in several films), "Centerfold" (No. 1 in 1982), and "Freeze-Frame" (No. 4 in 1982).

  1. ^ "The Album That Broke Up The J. Geils Band". 95.9 The Fox. October 26, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2021.