Labels Atlantic, EMI America | Website www.jgeilsband.com | |
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Origin Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Genres Rock, blues rock (early), new wave (late) Years active 1967–85, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–present Members Magic Dick
Danny Klein
Seth Justman
Peter Wolf | ||
The J. Geils Band /ˌdʒeɪ ˈɡaɪlz/ is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist J. Geils.
Contents
- Career
- Reunion appearances
- Post breakup
- Current members
- Current touring members
- Former members
- Former touring members
- References
The band played R&B-influenced blues rock in the 1970s, and soon achieved commercial success before moving towards a more new wave mainstream sound in the early 1980s, which would soon bring the band to its commercial peak. Since its initial break-up in 1985, the band has reunited several times.
The band first released several Top 40 singles in the early 1970's, including a cover of the song Lookin' for a Love by The Valentinos (which reached #39 in the Billboard Top 100 in 1971), as well as the single "Give it to me" (which reached #30 in 1973). Their biggest hits included Must of Got Lost (which reached #12 in the Billboard Top 100 in 1975), Love Stinks which reached #38 in 1980 (and was featured in several Hollywood films) , their single Freeze-Frame which reached #4 in the Billboard Top 200 in 1981, as well as the single, "Centerfold", which charted to No. 1 in the United States in early 1982.
Career
The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s, with vocalist and guitarist John Geils, bassist Danny Klein (Dr. Funk) and harmonica player Richard Salwitz (stage name Magic Dick).
The band formed under the name 'Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels,' while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. In 1967, the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking former disc jockey singer Peter Wolf, born Peter Blankenfeld (originally from the Bronx). They became the J. Geils Blues Band, later dropping the word "Blues" from the band name. The following year, former fan Seth Justman joined as an organist, and the band started to earn a sizable local following in the Boston. MA area in late 1960s. The group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.
The J. Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live single cover version of The Contours' "First I Look at the Purse". They then began to get AM radio airplay as well with a series of several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which were a cover version of The Valentinos' "Lookin' for a Love" (1971), a cover version of The Showstoppers' "Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty" (1973), the original songs "Give it to Me" (1973), and "Must Of Got Lost" (which charted at #12 in 1975). Later in the 1970s, the band signed with EMI America Records.
The band grew in popularity in the 1970's for their energetic live shows , with the charismatic stage-antics of singer Peter Wolf, as well as its innovative use of the harmonica as a lead instrument. Harmonicalinks.com later called Magic Dick "a pioneer in sound and style for rock harmonica". AllMusic.com described their 1970s period as a band "pure and simple, churning out greasy covers of obscure R&B, doo wop, and soul tunes, while cutting them with a healthy dose of Stonesy swagger." Although living in Boston, the band had always considered Detroit its second home because of its enormous popularity there. Two of its three live albums were recorded in Detroit at the Cinderella Ballroom and Pine Knob Music Theater (now DTE Energy Music Theater). Their second live album, 1976's Blow Your Face Out, was recorded in Boston (at Boston Garden) and Detroit (at Cobo Arena)
On August 17, 1971, at a show on the Boston Common, The Allman Brothers Band named the J. Geils Band as its favorite local band. Both bands later played the last show at the Fillmore East prior to the venue closing. After the release of their first two albums The J. Geils Band in 1970, and The Morning After in 1971, it was the The J. Geils Band's 3rd album Bloodshot which was the first commercial breakthrough for the band, reaching #10 on the Billboard 200 album charts in the United States in 1973. After their initial success, and with constant touring, the group seemed destined to be nothing more than a party band until the release of Monkey Island (1977), followed by Sanctuary (1978), which charted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200 and spun off a sizable hit single in "One Last Kiss" (No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100).
The group's commercial fortunes improved even more in the early 1980s, first with the humorous Love Stinks, then with their success with the Freeze Frame album, which included "Centerfold" (No. 1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100), and then the title cut (No. 4). "Centerfold" also became their only major hit single in the United Kingdom, where it reached No. 3 in February 1982. Another live album, Showtime (1982), contained their hit cover of "I Do" (No. 24), a 1965 hit by The Marvelows. Wolf left the group in 1983 over artistic disagreements.
The band went on to record one more album of new material, You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd, after Wolf left. He was not replaced, and Seth Justman took over most of the vocal duties. The album produced only one single, "Concealed Weapons", and was not a commercial success. The group then disbanded in 1985 after contributing the title song to the 1985 horror film Fright Night.
Reunion appearances
The group reunited with Wolf in 1999 for a 13-date tour of the East Coast and upper Midwest. Rollins Band drummer Sim Cain sat in for Stephen Jo Bladd for this tour, which also saw the band supported by backup singers Andricka Hall and Catherine Russell, as well as the Uptown Horns (who had also appeared with the group on its Freeze Frame Tour). After the '99 reunion tour finished at that year's end, Wolf returned to touring with his own backup band, with the J. Geils Band occasionally reuniting ever since
On February 26, 2005, the band (with drummer Marty Richards filling in for Bladd) reunited at Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a charity show for the Cam Neely Foundation for cancer care.
On May 22, 2006, all six original members had a surprise reunion at bassist Danny Klein's 60th birthday party at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.
On February 19, 2009, the band reunited again to perform the opening concert at the new House of Blues in Boston on Lansdowne Street (formerly the location of Avalon, Axis, The Embassy and The Modern), with Marty Richards once again filling in for Bladd and Mitch Chakour supplying backup vocals. Subsequently, they played two shows on April 24 and 25 at Detroit's Fillmore Theater (formerly State Theater). They also did a second show on Lansdowne Street on April 28.
On July 11, 2009 the J. Geils Band played at the Borgata Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, selling out the Borgata's 2,000-seat Event Center.
On December 31, 2009, the original members (with Marty Richards again subbing for Stephen Jo Bladd) reunited for a one-night live gig at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The band played a benefit in Boston for Big Brothers/Big Sisters on January 23, 2010, which Wolf called the "last" Geils show. "You never say never," Wolf noted, "But I can tell you in my heart of hearts that as far as I know – and I'm a pretty good source – there is nothing I can think of that's planned. So this is basically it right now."
On August 14, 2010, the J. Geils Band reunited once again to open for Aerosmith at a sold-out show at Fenway Park.
For their 2010 dates, the band was again supported by the Uptown Horns along with backup singers Mitch Chakour, Andricka Hall and Nichelle Tillman. Hall and Tillman continued on in the band for their 2011 and 2012 tours, as did the Uptown Horns. Since this time, Wolf and Geils had also both been touring as solo artists. Danny Klein formed a new band called Danny Klein's Full House that was dedicated to playing the music of the J. Geils Band.
The J. Geils Band embarked on a short U.S. tour in August/September 2012. However, they left for the tour without J. Geils. Geils filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against the other members of the group over use of the name for a tour without him. He named band members Richard Salwitz, Danny Klein, Peter Wolf and Seth Justman in the lawsuit filed in Boston Superior Court, claiming that they "planned and conspired" to continue touring without him, and were unlawfully using the group's trademarked name. Geils, angry at his bandmates for what they did, permanently left the band. Touring guitarists Duke Levine and Kevin Barry, and touring drummer Tom Arey joined the band for the tour
On May 30, 2013, the J. Geils Band performed six songs as part of the Boston Strong concert at the TD Garden in Boston. The concert, a benefit for victims of the recent Boston Marathon bombing victims, also featured Aerosmith, James Taylor, Boston, Dropkick Murphys, New Kids on the Block, Bell Biv DeVoe, Boyz II Men, Jimmy Buffett, Carole King, Extreme and Jason Aldean.
In 2013 the band played for an hour as the opening act for Bon Jovi in multiple locations across the United States.
Beginning in the fall of 2014 and through the beginning of 2015, the J. Geils Band was the opening act for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band on most tour dates across North America, along with some solo shows in the gap.
Post-breakup
Since the semi-retirement of the band, Geils has been restoring sports cars in Massachusetts and started the performance shop KTR European Motorsports in Ayer, Massachusetts. In 1992, he joined his old bandmate Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz to form the band Bluestime, which released two records: the self-titled Bluestime (1994) and Little Car Blues (1996) on Rounder Records.
In 2004, Geils produced the album Nail It! for Massachusetts-based blues/rock group The Installers (Francesca Records No. 1011). He has also been known to appear on stage with The Installers occasionally.
Magic Dick recently contributed his harmonica playing and some vocals as part of a live recording called Command Performance by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring The Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart, Ronnie Baker Brooks and others. Since 2007, he has toured as part of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue on different Blues Cruises and again on land-based shows. Peter Wolf toured with Kid Rock during the first half of 2008.
The December 2009 edition of Vintage Guitar (magazine) featured an in-depth interview with J. Geils by Mambo Sons guitarist Tom Guerra. In the interview, Geils revealed his playing approach, jazz influences and choice of instruments.
In September 2010 it was announced that the J. Geils Band was a finalist nominee for selection to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Class of 2011, but were not selected for induction that year. In October 2016 they were once again nominated.