J. Geils Band

The J. Geils Band was a very popular rock and roll band, playing to large arena crowds in the United States in the 1970s before moving towards a more pop-influenced sound in the 1980s. They are perhaps best known for the single "Centerfold", an international hit in 1982.

Related Topics:
Rock and roll - United States - 1970s - Pop-influenced - 1980s - 1982

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The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s with singer J. Geils, bassist Danny Klein and harpist Richard Salwitz. In 1967 the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking ex-disc jockey guitarist Peter Wolf, both from Boston. The following year Seth Justman joined as an organist and the group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970. Later in the 1970s, the band signed with EMI America Records.

Related Topics:
Acoustic - Blues - 1960s - Singer - J. Geils - Bassist - Danny Klein - Harp - Richard Salwitz - 1967 - Drummer - Stephen Jo Bladd - Disc jockey - Guitarist - Peter Wolf - Boston - Organist - Atlantic Records - 1970 - EMI America Records

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The J. Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live "First I Look at the Purse", then had several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which was "Must of Got Lost" (1974).

Related Topics:
FM radio - 1974

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The group's commercial fortunes improved in the early 1980s, first with the humorous "Love Stinks", then with their great success with the Freeze-Frame album which included "Centerfold" (#1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100) and then the title cut (#4).

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Wolf left the group in 1983 for a solo career not long after, over disagreements about whether to continue to take the band in more of a popular direction, or continue with the purist tradition.

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The group was not reunited with Wolf until 1999, and subsequently broke up again when ticket sales proved extremely disappointing. Wolf continues to tour with his own backup band, and the rest of the Geils band makes occasional appearances.

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Since the semi-retirement of the band, Geils has been restoring sports cars in Massachusetts.

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J.Geils Band road crew from 1976 through 1979:

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Jim Donnelly: road manager,

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Tony Morgano: stage manager,

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Carol Nurenberg: equipment manager,

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Joe Mullin: truck driver,

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Frank Pavlich: live ( house ) mix,

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George Corneliussen: monitor mixer,

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David Berndt: lighting director,

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Karl Hansen: lighting crew,

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Harold Blumberg: Audiofreqs sound company,

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Tommy Marzullo: guitar and drum tech.

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