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.
Rage in the Cage
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need some fast relief
The boss says, "Boy, you're lazy"
But I'm just bored beyond belief
Laid off since last summer
Man, this really takes the cake
This town is like a prison
And I just got to make my break
They shove it down your throat
I'm 'bout to choke - choke
I'm nauseous - my transistor's 'bout the
only antidote to keep my temperature
from runnin' wild
Let me hear that radio!
Chorus
There's a rage in the cage
There's a rage in the cage
Sweet Diana to the rescue
Hot potato to my aid
She's the girl with the swirl
Like air-conditioned lemonade
But the lady's on the hot-plate
Daddy's threatened to disown
Handcuffed tight in a chain of events
I guess I'm out here on my own
It don't take a PhD
To know I'm goin' nowhere fast
I've got to move, I'm on the move
It don't take much to see
This town is livin' in the past
They all just seem to want to tie me down
Let me hear that radio!
Chorus
I want to rock it
I've got to rock it
I've gotta get me on that rocket ship to outa here
This town is wearin' ear plugs
I'm of age and loose to juice
But they say Stop! Stop!
There's a fire in the furnace
Breakin' out and breakin' loose
You know I'm just about to lose my mind
They don't want me paralyzed
They just want me neutralized
Chorus
The J. Geils Band's song "Rage in the Cage" is a rock and roll anthem that captures the frustration and restlessness of a young man who feels trapped in a dead-end town. The lyrics describe the singer's desire to escape from his mundane life and find excitement and adventure elsewhere. He is bored with his job, laid off since last summer, and feels like his town is like a prison. He wants to break free, but everyone around him is cautioning him to be careful.
The singer turns to music as his only way to escape. He craves the energy and excitement that comes from letting go and immersing himself in the sound. He is looking for relief from the mundane reality of his life and wants to let his spirit run wild. In the chorus, he expresses his anger and frustration with the world around him, the "rage in the cage" that threatens to consume him.
Throughout the song, the singer is seeking release, escape, and freedom. He wants to rock it, to get on a rocket ship out of here, and break out and break loose from the chains that are holding him down. He is looking for something to believe in and a way to express his anger and frustration. The song is a call to action for anyone who feels restless and trapped by their environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Shopping Center crazy
The environment in which he resides is making him feel insane.
I need some fast relief
He needs a way to escape or feel better quickly.
The boss says, "Boy, you're lazy"
His boss is criticizing him for not working hard enough.
But I'm just bored beyond belief
He is extremely bored and uninterested in his current situation.
Laid off since last summer
He has been out of work for a long time now.
Man, this really takes the cake
This situation is the worst he has experienced.
This town is like a prison
He feels trapped and confined in this small town.
And I just got to make my break
He needs to get away and make a change in his life.
They say "Be cautious, little mister"
Others are warning him to be careful.
They shove it down your throat
Others are trying to force their opinions or beliefs onto him.
I'm 'bout to choke - choke
He feels suffocated or overwhelmed.
I'm nauseous - my transistor's 'bout the only antidote to keep my temperature from runnin' wild
Listening to the radio is the only thing that helps him calm down and feel better.
Let me hear that radio!
He is pleading to hear music on the radio.
There's a rage in the cage
He is feeling an intense anger or frustration.
Sweet Diana to the rescue
Diana is a person who can help him in some way.
Hot potato to my aid
This person can come to his aid quickly.
She's the girl with the swirl
She is a unique person who stands out from the crowd.
Like air-conditioned lemonade
She is refreshing and cool, like a cold drink on a hot day.
But the lady's on the hot-plate
This person is in a difficult or stressful situation.
Daddy's threatened to disown
This person's family is not happy with their actions or decisions.
Handcuffed tight in a chain of events
This person feels trapped by a series of events that they cannot control.
I guess I'm out here on my own
He feels alone and without help or support.
It don't take a PhD
He doesn't need to be a genius to understand his situation.
To know I'm goin' nowhere fast
He realizes that he is not making any progress in his life.
I've got to move, I'm on the move
He needs to take action and make changes to his situation.
It don't take much to see
It is obvious to him that his town is stuck in the past.
This town is livin' in the past
The people in his town are resistant to change and stuck in old ways.
They all just seem to want to tie me down
The people around him want to keep him from moving forward or making changes.
I want to rock it
He wants to be successful and make progress.
I've got to rock it
He needs to take action and make changes to his situation.
I've gotta get me on that rocket ship to outa here
He needs to find a way to leave his current situation and start new.
This town is wearin' ear plugs
The people in his town are not listening to him or his ideas.
I'm of age and loose to juice
He is an adult and eager to live life to the fullest.
But they say Stop! Stop!
Others are trying to hold him back and prevent him from making progress.
There's a fire in the furnace
His anger or excitement is becoming more intense.
Breakin' out and breakin' loose
He is ready to break free from his current situation.
You know I'm just about to lose my mind
He is becoming overwhelmed and losing control.
They don't want me paralyzed
Others do not want him to remain stagnant or without progress.
They just want me neutralized
Others want him to stop making changes and become less of a threat to the current way of life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SETH JUSTMAN, PETER WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidconnellan6875
Shopping Center crazy
I need some fast relief
The boss says, "Boy, you're lazy"
But I'm just bored beyond belief
Laid off since last summer
Man, this really takes the cake
This town is like a prison
And I just got to make my break
They say "Be cautious, little mister"
They shove it down your throat
I'm 'bout to choke - choke
I'm nauseous - my transistor's 'bout the
only antidote to keep my temperature
from runnin' wild
Let me hear that radio!
Chorus
There's a rage in the cage
There's a rage in the cage
Sweet Diana to the rescue
Hot potato to my aid
She's the girl with the swirl
Like air-conditioned lemonade
But the lady's on the hot-plate
Daddy's threatened to disown
Handcuffed tight in a chain of events
I guess I'm out here on my own
It don't take a PhD
To know I'm goin' nowhere fast
I've got to move, I'm on the move
It don't take much to see
This town is livin' in the past
They all just seem to want to tie me down
Let me hear that radio!
Chorus
I want to rock it
I've got to rock it
I've gotta get me on that rocket ship to outa here
This town is wearin' ear plugs
I'm of age and loose to juice
But they say Stop! Stop!
There's a fire in the furnace
Breakin' out and breakin' loose
You know I'm just about to lose my mind
They don't want me paralyzed
They just want me neutralized
Chorus
@secariusprime4217
This was the B side of the Centerfold 45. My uncle played it for me one Saturday morning shortly after the Freeze Frame album came out and it was the day that I learned that the cover songs did not tell a album's full story. In fact, I actually liked this song more than any other on the entire album. It was like having an entire adventure blockbuster movie condensed into just less than five minutes of song. I've continued to listen to this song ever since then for decades now and I never grow tired of it. Hail to the J. Geils Band.
@AlexDeChristian6323
I still have the 45 I bought back in early 1982, and I used to play this b side too, more even than Centerfold.
@juliohernando6150
Eternos J geils band .... rage inthe cage buenaaaazaaa
@deepsky7206
current generation will never know the coolness we experienced when this song hit the airwaves
@mikereiss4216
As cool as airconditioned lemonade.
@chrisbarker6961
BY FAR, the best track on this album....I always rocked to this song and played FLAMETHROWER as a chaser!!!!
@AlexDeChristian6323
Flamethrower was the B side of Freeze Frame.
@littlepewpew001
The entire album rocks
@jennh3598
Rest In Peace John Giles, Another great music legend has passed, They are gonna have a hell of a band on the other side with all the greats that have died
@gkprivate433
Saw them twice in Rhode Island and Boston. Great up close and personal performances. RIP or play in peace or whatever makes them happier