‘Love Stinks’ — J. Geils Band had ’70s-’80s pop hits
J. GEILS 1946-2017
GROTON, Mass. — Musician J. Geils, founder of the J. Geils Band known for such peppy early ’80s pop hits as “Love Stinks,” “Freeze Frame” and “Centerfold,” has died in his Massachusetts home at 71.
Groton police said officers responded to Mr. Geils’ home around 4 p.m. Tuesday for a well-being check and found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“A preliminary investigation indicates that Geils died of natural causes,” police said in a statement.
The J. Geils Band was founded in 1967 in Worcester, Mass., while Mr. Geils, whose full name was John Warren Geils Jr., was studying at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Bandmates included Danny Klein, Richard “Magic Dick” Salwitz, Stephen Jo Bladd, Peter Wolf and Seth Justman.
The band, whose music bridged the gap between disco and new wave, released 11 studio albums before breaking up in 1985. They reunited off and on over the years.
The group had several Top 40 singles in the early 1970s, including “Give It to Me” and a cover of the song “Lookin’ for a Love” by the family group The Valentinos.
Their biggest hits included “Must of Got Lost,” which reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Top 100 in 1975 and “Love Stinks,” a humorous rant against unrequited love, the title song on their 1980 album, but those were easily eclipsed by “Centerfold,” from the album “Freeze Frame,” which was released in 1981 and eventually charted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982. It stayed there for six weeks and was heavily featured on MTV.
The band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the fourth time last fall but was not selected.
“This is our fourth nomination, and going through that process, with its inherent disappointment, you’re not sure you want to take that ride again,” lead vocalist Wolf told Billboard at the time. “It’s great to be recognized, but it’s a drag to be disappointed. I hope that we make it in. That would be great.”
Fans turned to social media to offer condolences and to reminisce about the band’s songs and concerts.
Wolf wrote a short Facebook message about his former bandmate: “Thinking of all the times we kicked it high and rocked down the house! R.I.P Jay Geils.”