John Geils Jr, founder of The J Geils Band, dies aged 71

Leader of band that found fame with hits such as Love Stinks and Centerfold dies at his Massachusetts home.

John Geils Jr, the founder of the J Geils Band, whose hits included Centerfold and Freeze Frame, has died in his Massachusetts home. He was 71.

Police in Groton confirmed Geils’s death on Tuesday night, saying in a statement: “A preliminary investigation indicates that Geils died of natural causes.”

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. 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.