J GEILS Reunite
Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 11:29 amNAMES
J. Geils Band jams for bassist's 60th
By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff | May 24, 2006
Whatever bad blood may have caused the J. Geils Band to break up in the '80s wasn't in evidence at Scullers the other night. At a surprise 60th birthday bash for bassist Danny Klein, the six original members jumped onstage and jammed -- the first time in more than 20 years, we're told, that Klein, singer Peter Wolf, keyboardist Seth Justman, guitarist Jay Geils, harpist Magic Dick, and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd have played together in public. (Bladd skipped the reunion in '99 and the '05 concert for Cam Neely's charity.) ``People tell me I've done what record companies couldn't do," said Valerie Schechter-Klein, the bassist's bride and organizer of Monday's invite-only affair. ``They're like brothers -- they fight and they get along." They also rock. Augmented by the Uptown Horns, the band played a short but spirited set that included ``Homework," ``Lookin for a Love," and ``Give it to Me." A few old friends, including legendary producer Bill Szymczyk, flew in for the party. ``I worked with the Who, the Eagles, B.B. King, and the James Gang," said Szymczyk, whose credits include ``Hotel California." ``And these guys were the most fun I ever had -- they're six comics disguised as a rock band." Others on hand to congratulate Klein included former 'BCN jock Oedipus, jazz impresario Fred Taylor, guitarist Johnny A, blues man James Montgomery, former manager of Boston the band Paul Ahern, Rockin' George Leh, Phoenix exec David Bieber, DJ Carter Alan, former Geils manager and sometime-actor John Doumanian -- he played the coke fiend in Woody Allen's ``Annie Hall" -- and Marshall Simpkins, owner of the late, great Inn Square Men's Bar. Also there were former Tea Party MC Charlie ``Master Blaster" Daniels, and Doug Flutie, who joined the house band for a few tunes on drums. (Former 'BCN jock Charles Laquidara and classic rocker Jon Butcher couldn't make it, but both called Klein during the party.) Asked if the reconstituted Boston rockers might hit the road to play more shows, Klein sounded hopeful. "Man, you're preaching to the converted," he said. ``My bags are packed!"
J. Geils Band jams for bassist's 60th
By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff | May 24, 2006
Whatever bad blood may have caused the J. Geils Band to break up in the '80s wasn't in evidence at Scullers the other night. At a surprise 60th birthday bash for bassist Danny Klein, the six original members jumped onstage and jammed -- the first time in more than 20 years, we're told, that Klein, singer Peter Wolf, keyboardist Seth Justman, guitarist Jay Geils, harpist Magic Dick, and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd have played together in public. (Bladd skipped the reunion in '99 and the '05 concert for Cam Neely's charity.) ``People tell me I've done what record companies couldn't do," said Valerie Schechter-Klein, the bassist's bride and organizer of Monday's invite-only affair. ``They're like brothers -- they fight and they get along." They also rock. Augmented by the Uptown Horns, the band played a short but spirited set that included ``Homework," ``Lookin for a Love," and ``Give it to Me." A few old friends, including legendary producer Bill Szymczyk, flew in for the party. ``I worked with the Who, the Eagles, B.B. King, and the James Gang," said Szymczyk, whose credits include ``Hotel California." ``And these guys were the most fun I ever had -- they're six comics disguised as a rock band." Others on hand to congratulate Klein included former 'BCN jock Oedipus, jazz impresario Fred Taylor, guitarist Johnny A, blues man James Montgomery, former manager of Boston the band Paul Ahern, Rockin' George Leh, Phoenix exec David Bieber, DJ Carter Alan, former Geils manager and sometime-actor John Doumanian -- he played the coke fiend in Woody Allen's ``Annie Hall" -- and Marshall Simpkins, owner of the late, great Inn Square Men's Bar. Also there were former Tea Party MC Charlie ``Master Blaster" Daniels, and Doug Flutie, who joined the house band for a few tunes on drums. (Former 'BCN jock Charles Laquidara and classic rocker Jon Butcher couldn't make it, but both called Klein during the party.) Asked if the reconstituted Boston rockers might hit the road to play more shows, Klein sounded hopeful. "Man, you're preaching to the converted," he said. ``My bags are packed!"
