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Copyright 1999 Boston Herald Inc. (Source InfoTrac)
The Boston Herald
June 5, 1999 Saturday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: ARTS & LIFE; Pg. 019
LENGTH: 411 words
HEADLINE: MUSIC; J. Geils Band has its day in hometown
BYLINE: By DEAN JOHNSON
It was the real world vs. the rock 'n' roll world yesterday afternoon at the
Tower Records Newbury Street store.
Hometown heroes the J. Geils Band was getting inducted into the Tower Walk of
Fame at 2 p.m. in a ceremony that included Mayor Thomas Menino proclaiming it J.
Geils Day in Boston.
Would the event start on time (real world) or be late (rock 'n' roll time)?
Rock won, but only slightly. Menino began addressing the crowd of about 200
people, many with video cameras, 15 minutes behind schedule.
He also nearly made it through his part of the induction unscathed.
He said it was "great" to have "J. Geils and his band" back after 16 years.
Menino added, "That's real music. J. Geils all that other music, who cares?"
Menino kidded lead singer Peter Wolf about having to ice his knees after the
band's recent appearance on David Letterman's show and added, "I urge all my
fellow Bostonians to join me in recognizing this band's contribution to the
arts."
Then he presented City of Boston baseball caps to the band and handed out
individual plaques to its members.
That's when the mayor referred to drummer Stephen Jo Bladd as "Stephanie."
So close.
There was another subplot to the band's appearance. The group's original
breakup was ugly. What is the chemistry like today after 16 years?
The joking and jiving must have been gratifying to longtime fans in the
audience. Wolf spoke first. "I gotta find out from the mayor which bar is open
so we can buy everybody some drinks."
Then bassist Danny Klein quipped, "If anybody's down here I still owe money
to after all these years, forget about it."
That energy carried over to the brief press conference that followed. "We're
looking forward, not back," keyboardist Seth Justman said.
When asked if there would be anything new in the tour, which begins June 23
at the Tweeter Center, guitarist J. Geils quipped, "This jacket's new."
What song did they do first in their initial practice? Harp player Magic Dick
replied: "First I Look at the Purse."
Drummer Bladd was at Tower Records but won't join the band on tour. He said
he developed "long, deep family ties and I just decided to sit this one out.
" But he didn't rule out doing future work with the group.
Justman was the quietest member of the sextet yesterday but still promised
the band was intent on "ripping it up" when it hits the concert stage. The group
is also slated to play on the "Today" show June 18.
End of Article
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