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.
Those of us who were boys of a certain age will never forget the happy feelings we felt when "Centerfold" first aired on MTV.
I liked his version of “First I Looks at the Purse.”
RIP.
RIP Mr. Geils! Love(d) your music!
RIP.
R.I.P. J Geils
ping
Last time I saw him in concert, it was J. Geils Band and Bonnie Raitt! What a blues concert!!! Probably 25 years ago or more.
Well that, like love, stinks. RIP J Geils.
Thanks for fun music... in honor I will always say “No Anchovies” when ordering a pizza.
I saw him back in the day. “Lookin’ For Love” was just out. They opened for Mountain. Killer show.
Quite a testament to whoever was responsible for finding the opening acts, even though I hate the eagles
Wooba, gooba, let me hear ya Dicky. RIP.
Whammer Jammer
Feels bad man.
must of got lost
Saw them in 1974 at the Spectrum in Philly.
What would I give
to have the nickname 'Magic Dick'?
Saw them with U2 as the opening act around 1981.
Second that.....RIP.
Chuck Berry is no longer riding along in his automobile. Johnny Cash is no longer cashing his royalty checks. Some of Sister Sledge and most of McFadden & Whitehead are dead, dead, dead.
John Stewart and Gerry Rafferty - both dead. John Wetton of Asia is no longer in the Heat of the Moment. David Bowie, Prince and that one guy who drummed for that band whose name I can't remember are all dead, dead, dead. Laura Branigan, Greg Lake (of Emerson Lake & Palmer) and Juice Newton are dead dead dead.
I can go on with hundreds and hundreds of names but I'll name a few more. Waylon Jennings who got off that plan to make room for J.P. Richardson could not cheat death in the end and joined the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly after all. Jim Croce no longer has time in a bottle. Some dude from the Beastie Boys and a few other rappers are dead, dead, dead.
I can't remember his name but that guy who drummed for Led Zeppelin is also dead and Keith Moon is too. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin are now Riders on the Storm. Leonard Cohen is dead along with some members of The B-52s and the Pretenders. All of the Talking Heads are still alive - thank God. But for how much longer? How much longer?
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