The J. Geils Band was an American rock band formed in 1968 in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist John "J." Geils (February 20, 1946 – April 11, 2017). The band played R&B-influenced blues rock during 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, with their hit 'Centerfold', which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Billboard's American singles chart. Since its initial break-up in 1985, the band has reunited several times.
Links To Peel[]
73
The J. Geils Band were well received by critics when their early records appeared, and as their style was close to the blues and in line with the post-hippy, back-to-the roots mood of their era, Peel started playing the group's material in the early 70's. In 1973 they visited the UK and appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test, but, when playing a track by the band on 10 October 1975, he criticised them for what he called "a certain stiffness in their playing".
By the end of the decade, with the band moving into a mainstream sound, Peel had lost interest in them. On his 10 January 1979 show after playing the J Geils Band's I Could Hurt You, he quipped:
"Well that was kind of dull, wasn't it? But there you are, can't always get it right!"
In 1980, Peel travelled to the Pinkpop festival in the Netherlands and amongst those who performed there, were the J.Geils Band.
Shows Played[]
- 1971
- 06 February 1971: unknown (sourced from David Cavanagh's Good Night & Good Riddance book)
- 24 April 1971: unknown (sourced from David Cavanagh's Good Night & Good Riddance book)
- 1972
- 07 January 1972: Cry One More Time (LP – The Morning After) Atco
- 14 January 1972: I Don’t Need You No More (LP – The Morning After) Atlantic
- 18 August 1972: Pack Fair And Square (single) Atlantic
- 05 September 1972: Pack Fair & Square (single) Atlantic
- 22 September 1972: Looking For A Love (Compilation LP - Mar Y Sol) Atlantic/ATCO
- 1973
- 08 May 1973: Back To Get Ya (LP – Bloodshot) Atlantic
- 17 May 1973: Struttin With My Baby (LP – Bloodshot) Atlantic
- 11 September 1973 (A Touch Of The Moon): House Party
- 1974
- 15 January 1974: Did You No Wrong
- 1975
- 15 September 1975: Love-itis (LP - Hotline) Atlantic
- 10 October 1975: Be Careful (What You Do) (LP - Hotline) Atlantic
- 1977
- 23 June 1977: 5 tracks from the latest album
- 1979
- 04 January 1979: Jus' Can't Stop Me (LP - Sanctuary.) EMI America
- 10 January 1979: I Could Hurt You (LP-Sanctuary) EMI
- 01 May 1979: Take It Back (7") EMI
- 1985
- 14 March 1985 (Radio Bremen): Heavy Petting (album - You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd) EMI America (Radio Bremen playlist requirement)