Posted on 04/11/2017 4:46:17 PM PDT by Drew68
GROTON, Massachusetts —
5 Investigates has learned John Warren Geils Jr., the artist known professionally as J. Geils and part of the rock group The J. Geils Band, was found dead in his Groton, Massachusetts home.
He was 71.
Geils and the band are best known for their album, "Freeze Frame" and the song "Centerfold," which hit No. 1 for six weeks.
Geils formed the band during his time at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he studied mechanical engineering.
At Worcester, he formed J. Geils Blues Band with Danny Klein, Magic Dick Salwitz, Stephen Jo Bladd, and Peter Wolf, with Seth Justman becoming the last member before the band released its debut album in 1970.
The J. Geils Band was influenced by soul music and rhythm and blues, but it moved toward pop and rock by the time the album "Love Stinks" came out in 1980.
After 11 albums, the band's 12th album, "Freeze Frame," hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts for four weeks in 1981 and remained on the chart for 70 weeks. The title track "Freeze Frame" made it to No. 4.
While on tour, opening acts for the band included the Eagles, Billy Joel, ZZ Top and U2.
The band broke up a few years later.
Geils has called Groton his home for 35 years.
But I just saw him on “Angie Tribeca” last night and he looked fine. Didn’t look anywhere near 71.
Our dad kept me & my bros in crewcuts, so I woulda had no place to put flowers other than in my ears.
Bonzo Bonham??? Zepp drummer
How did the folks take it?
Speaking of The Ramones, I was over at 315 Bowery just this afternoon and I was remembering how bands like Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie and even The Police got their start there. Formerly known as CBGBs.
The pop slop made them millionaires.
Few Americans have heard the J. Geils Band’s 14th and final album, after Peter Wolf left the band. “You’re Gettin’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd” was only released on CD in Japan, but was released on vinyl and cassette in Europe and the US for a short time, but was deleted after a few months and never reissued.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Gettin%27_Even_While_I%27m_Gettin%27_Odd
Which is a pity, because it had several good tracks. My favorite is the very unusual title track, “You’re Gettin’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd”, which can be heard on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elTHvdDHdOM
Thanks for the music. Rest In Peace.
I was in Navy boot camp when Centerfold hit top 40. Dec 1981.
His memory has just been sold ...
“Geils formed the band during his time at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he studied mechanical engineering.”
Now there’s a line you don’t read too often in the same sentence as a rock star’s name these days...
I saw quite a few shows in the Spectrum in the 70s and 80s-The Dead, Dylan, Neil Young, Rush, The Who, BOC, The Outlaws,U2, AC/ DC, and many others.
I have a red “Bloodshot” album. Saw them with Johnny Winter and Yes. Greg Allman was guest keyboardist. He was so wasted Magic Dick had to help him with the words to “One Way Out”.
I'm 48 and in the Navy surrounded by lots of people 25+ years younger than me. They all like classic rock. And they all know the music. Creedence is really popular. Floyd and Zeppelin are timeless. Even 70s country like Hank Jr and Merle always is a hit.
I think that was the very first album I ever bought. I think I still have it as MP3s.
They were cool about it but we lived in a small town. My sister had a huge personality and didn’t care what anyone thought. She moved on to greater things while most of the people who looked down on her are still wondering why the hot water heater in their trailer isn’t heating anymore or why the hot dogs they buy still turn the water pink when they are boiled.
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