The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s with singer and guitarist J. Geils (born February 20, 1946; died April 10, 2017), bassist Danny Klein (Dr. Funk) and harpist Richard Salwitz (stage name Magic Dick). The band formed under the name Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. In 1967 the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking ex-disc jockey singer Peter Wolf, born Peter Blankenfeld, both from Boston. The following year Seth Justman joined as an organist, and the group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.
The J. Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live single "First I Look at the Purse", then had several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which was "Must Of Got Lost" (1974). Later in the 1970s, the band signed with EMI America Records.
The band had good success covering soul singles. Besides the well-known aforementioned "First I Look at the Purse" from The Contours, they covered the more obscure "I Do" from The Marvelows and "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" from The Showstoppers.
The group's commercial fortunes improved in the early 1980s, first with the humorous "Love Stinks", then with their great success with the Freeze Frame album which included "Centerfold" (#1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100) and then the title cut (#4). Wolf left the group in 1983 for a solo career not long after, over disagreements about whether to continue to take the band in more of a popular direction, or continue with the purist tradition.
The band went on to record one more album of new material, You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd, after Wolf left. He was not replaced, and Seth Justman took over most of the vocal duties. The album produced only one single - "Concealed Weapons", a song about breasts - and was not a success. The band toured in support of the album, but never again recorded anything new. The group then disbanded in 1985 after contributing the title song to the 1985 horror film Fright Night.
The group was not reunited with Wolf until 1999, and subsequently broke up again when ticket sales proved extremely disappointing. Wolf continues to tour with his own backup band, and the rest of the Geils band makes occasional appearances. Since the semi-retirement of the band, Geils has been restoring sports cars in Massachusetts.
On 22 May 2006, the six original members had a surprise reunion, the first time they had all played together in over 20 years, at bassist Danny Klein's 60th birthday party at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.
Since 2009 they are reunited once more.
The band disbanded in 2017 after the death of bandleader J. Geils.
Monkey Island
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right in the middle of a zoo
Living home on monkey island, baby
Pretend to be a monkey too
Well, here I am on monkey island
Hiding behind a rock
I'm all dressed up with my monkey suit
Living home on monkey island, baby
Right in the middle of a zoo
Living home on monkey island, baby
Pretend to be a monkey too
Well there's one thing about these monkeys, baby
They don't know I'm around
But that's pretty good 'cause if they knew
They'll probably come and put me down
Living home on monkey island, baby
Right in the middle of a zoo
Living home on monkey island, baby
Pretend to be a monkey too
With my paisley tie and my one button suit
I'm about as close as I can get
I guess I must be doing okay
'Cause they haven't come and got me yet
Living home on monkey island, baby
Right in the middle of a zoo
Living home on monkey island, baby
Pretend to be a monkey too
The J. Geils Band's "Monkey Island" is a song about a person who has decided to live like a monkey in a zoo. The singer portrays himself as living on Monkey Island, surrounded by monkeys, and pretending to be one of them. He is dressed in a monkey suit, complete with a paisley tie and a one button suit. The singer observes the monkeys from his hiding spot behind a rock, pretending to be one of them, to avoid being put down by them. The song tells a story of the singer's experience of living as a monkey with the monkeys.
The song is a commentary on the human condition of trying to fit in with a particular group, even if it means pretending to be something or someone else. The singer seems to be conveying a sense of disconnect from humanity, choosing instead to adopt the primal nature of a monkey. The song also speaks to the idea of the freedom that can come with abandoning one's human responsibilities, as monkeys lack the responsibilities and stresses that come with being human. Overall, "Monkey Island" is a unique take on the idea of escapism, as the singer decides to escape his troubles by pretending to be a monkey and living with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Living home on monkey island, baby
I live among monkeys in a zoo
Right in the middle of a zoo
I am in the center of a place with many animals
Pretend to be a monkey too
I'm acting like a monkey
Well, here I am on monkey island
I am present on this island with monkeys
Hiding behind a rock
I'm not in plain sight
I'm all dressed up with my monkey suit
I am wearing an outfit meant to look like a monkey
Pretending to be something I'm not
I am putting on an act of being a monkey
Well there's one thing about these monkeys, baby
These primates do not acknowledge my presence
They don't know I'm around
I am hidden from their sight
But that's pretty good 'cause if they knew
It's ideal that they are not aware of me, otherwise
They'll probably come and put me down
They might attack me if they saw me
With my paisley tie and my one button suit
My attire is not typical of a monkey
I'm about as close as I can get
Despite that, I am doing my best to imitate them
I guess I must be doing okay
I assume I'm doing a decent job of acting like a monkey
'Cause they haven't come and got me yet
They haven't attacked or captured me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER WOLF, SETH JUSTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabriela Luz
No one could explain it
What went on that night
How every living thing
Just dropped out of sight
We watched them take the bodies
And row them back to shore
Nothing like that ever
Happened here before
On the east side of the island
Not too far from the shore
There stood the old house
Of fifty years or more
All the doors and windows
Were locked inside and out
The fate of those trapped in there
Would never be found out
There ain't no life on Monkey Island
No one cares and no one knows
The moon hangs cold on Monkey Island
The night has dealt the fatal blow
The fish jumped from the water
And started walking home
The birds all started screaming
And dove into the foam
The night came out of nowhere
And then a quiet rain
Footsteps through the darkness
Down a half forgotten lane
There ain't no life on Monkey Island
No one cares and no one knows
The moon hangs cold on Monkey Island
The night has dealt the fatal blow
There ain't no life on Monkey Island
The night has dealt the fatal blow
darkhorsejim
Incredible music during incredible times! I was a senior in high school when this came out, usually played on WBCN. I remember one night we took mescaline down at Lynn Beach & we sang along as loud as we could looking over to Nahant, tripping our brains out. And I still can't believe we used to drive around partying like that all the time & lived to tell about it!
Andy Fletcher
I literally flew my 64 Impala and 62 Impala several times. We generally stayed away fro windowpanes but would greedily devour several blotters, micro dots or barrels, then drive out in the desert stomping rats and chasing jackrabbits. Though this came out after I'd joined the Corps in 76. I still have the CD, and honestly, it's the only one of theirs I really like...And I REALLY like it. And yes, it's a wonder I still walk this planet. I miss indestructible Andy quite a bit.
Dean Horinek
It's a long way from Nahant to White Sands, the Trinity site and the Zia pueblo.
David Haener
THEY DON'T MAKE MUSIC LIKE THIS ANYMORE, WHAT A SHAME. WHAT A AWESOME, AWESOME SONG!
m ulenaers
I agree....
Nick Minardi
All the tracks on the album are awesome 🍻
R&R Peg
WOW. Its been a day since I heard this! so so good to hear it once again. So happy I got to see them open for Seger in Chicago 2 yrs ago. RIP J. Geils, Jr.
Diana Huss
Rest In Peace John Geils! Thank you for your songs that always bring back the best memories! <3
Charles Messinger
Peter Wolf along with the rest of J. Geils were the most underrated rock band of all time.
Rob Slater
Not by the bands that shared bills! Nobody wanted to follow them!