Formed in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the band consisted of guitarist J. Geils, singer Peter Wolf, harmonica player Magic Dick, bassist Danny Klein, keyboard player Seth Justman, and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd.

Their debut album, The J. Geils Band (1970), released by Atlantic Records, charted at number 195 on the United States Billboard 200.

[1] The J. Geils Band returned to the top 40 in 1974 with their fifth album, Nightmares...and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle, and the single "Must of Got Lost".

[1] Released in 1978, Sanctuary was the J. Geils Band's first album to receive gold certification from the RIAA since Bloodshot.

The band's ninth album, Love Stinks (1980), produced two top 40 singles in the US and in Canada: "Come Back" and the title track.