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 age 71.
Groton police said officers responded to Geils' home about 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, Massachusetts, while Geils, whose full name was John Warren Geils Jr., was studying at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Geils served as the band's guitarist. Bandmates included Danny Klein, Richard "Magic Dick'' Salwitz, Stephen Jo Bladd, Peter Wolf and Seth Justman.
The band, whose music blended blues, rock, R&B, soul and pop, released 11 studio albums and built a large following because of its energetic live shows, as well as its unusual use of the harmonica as a lead instrument. The band broke up in 1985 but reunited off and on over the years.
The band had several Top 40 singles in the early 1970s, including a cover song "Lookin' for a Love," originally by the Valentinos, and "Give It to Me."
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. Their song "Centerfold," from the album "Freeze Frame," 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 featured on MTV.
The band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the fourth time last fall but once again 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."
When news of Geils' death broke, fans turned to social media to offer condolences and to reminisce about the band's songs and concerts.
Wolf wrote a short message on Facebook about his former bandmate: "Thinking of all the times we kicked it high and rocked down the house! R.I.P Jay Geils.''
WCVB-TV in Boston reported Geils had called Groton his home for 35 years.
