Guitarist John Geils formed an acoustic Blues trio called Snoopy And The Sopwith Camels with bassist Danny Klein and harmonica player Richard Salwitz (a.k.a. Magic Dick) in the mid-1960s. By 1968 they had switched their style to heavier Rock by adding drummer Stephen Bladd and vocalist Peter Wolf (born Peter Blankenfeld) and changing their name to The J. Geils Blues Band. That same year keyboard player Seth Justman came onboard and the group quickly built a sizable following in the Boston area. Signing with Atlantic Records as The J. Geils Band in 1970, they began opening for national acts like B.B. King, Johnny Winter, The Allman Brothers and The Byrds.

The group recorded their self-titled, debut album in August, 1970 at A&R Studios in New York City, and released it on November 16th. The LP climbed as high as #195 on Billboard's Hot 200 chart, and a single from it, a cover of The Contours' 1965 tune, "First I Look At The Purse", managed to get some airplay. A follow-up album, issued in October, 1971, was called "The Morning After", and produced the band's breakthrough hit, "Looking For A Love", which peaked at #39 on the Hot 100 in the Spring of 1972. Although a second single, "Cry One More Time" did not fare as well, the album itself made it to #64. Their first live album, "Live Full House" was released in September, 1972 and peaked at #54 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States. The tracks "Looking for a Love" and "Serves You Right to Suffer" enjoyed considerable radio airplay.

On the strength of a heavy touring schedule and the dynamic stage presence of vocalist Peter Wolf, the band soon built a large following, not only in their hometown of Boston, but also in the Detroit area. Their third studio album, "Bloodshot", would prove to be pivotal in the band's career. Shooting to the number 10 position on the Billboard chart, the LP spawned the single "Give It To Me", which rose to #30 in mid-1973. The album was also unique because it was stamped out in red vinyl instead of the usual black. This custom of using colored records would continue throughout the band's tenure with Atlantic. Hurrying back into the recording studios, The J. Geils Band quickly issued "Ladies Invited" in November, '73, and although it debuted at #51, it couldn't match the sales of "Blood Shot", nor did it produce a hit single.

Next out of the chute was the album "Nightmares... and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle", which returned the band to prominence when it climbed to #26 on the Hot 200 and contained the #12 single, "Must Have Got Lost" in early 1975. In support of the album, the band toured across America, supporting such acts as The Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton and Rod Stewart. A second live LP, "Blow Your Face Out" was a combination of tracks recorded on November 15, 1975 at Boston Garden, and November 19, 1975 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. The album did well on the U.S. chart, rising to #40.

Even though they had a built a loyal and sizeable fan base, their album, "Monkee Island", released on June 9, 1977 was a commercial failure and did not contain a hit single. Atlantic Records dropped them after almost eight years with the label. November, 1978 brought the band's eighth studio album, and first for EMI, "Sanctuary", which did well enough to chart at #49 on the Billboard 200. It also produced a mid-level hit, "One Last Kiss", which although reaching #35 on the Billboard singles chart, only stayed in the Top 40 for three weeks. Their second EMI album, "Love Stinks", hit store shelves on January 28th, 1980, and included two more medium sized hit singles, "Come Back", which reached #32, and the title track, which rose to #38. In support of the LP, the band toured Europe, Japan and the U.S.

Up until now, The J. Geils Band had achieved what could only be considered moderate record chart success, but all that was about to change. Their tenth album, "Freeze Frame" was released on October 26, 1981, and by February the following year had risen to the top of the Billboard Hot 200 chart, where it remained for four weeks. The first single from the LP, "Centerfold", also went to number one where it stayed for six weeks, and remained in the U.S. Top 40 for an amazing twenty weeks. The record also became the band's only major hit in the U.K., where it reached #3. In 2018, the song was ranked at #66 on Billboard's All Time Top Songs. The title track from the LP was chosen as a second single release in early March, 1982, and it became the band's second consecutive million selling hit. "Freeze Frame" peaked at #4 during a three month run in the Top 40 and would prove to be the band's final Billboard Top Ten entry. Now selling out stadiums and arenas across America, the group shared a the stage with U2 for a month's worth of shows across the U.S. From there they joined The Rolling Stones for an eight week trek across Europe. A third single from the "Freeze Frame" album called "Angel In Blue" stalled at #40, despite getting rave reviews from music critics. In Great Britain, it reached #55. The live album, "Showtime!" was released November 12, 1982. Recorded at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan on September 4th, of that same year, it was considered by many critics and fans alike to be the weakest of the group's three live albums. It did however produce one final U.S. Top 40 hit, "I Do", which peaked at #24 in January, 1983.

Despite the band's success, vocalist Peter Wolf (born Peter W. Blankfield) parted company with The J. Geils Band in early 1983 over creative differences. Quickly launching a solo career, he scored two Billboard Top 40 hits the following year with "Lights Out" (#12) and "I Need You Tonight" (#36).

On October 5th, 1984, The J. Geils Band released their final studio album, "You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd" with Seth Justman singing lead vocals. Although the LP made it to #80 in America, a single from that collection, "Concealed Weapons" stalled at #85 during a one week stay on the Hot 100. After contributing the title track to the 1985 American horror film Fright Night, the group disbanded. Peter Wolf continued to turn out solo albums such as "Come As You Are" (#53 in 1987), "Up to No Good" (#111 in 1990), "Long Line" (Did not chart in 1996) and "Fool's Parade" (Did not chart in 1998). In 1992, J. Geils and Richard Salwitz formed a band called Bluestime, and released two albums: the self-titled "Bluestime" (1994) and "Little Car Blues" (1996) on Rounder Records.

The J. Geils Band returned to the public eye in 1998 when their song, "Love Stinks" was showcased in Adam Sandler's hit film, The Wedding Singer. With a new incentive, the band reunited with Peter Wolf for a thirteen date tour of the American East Coast and upper Midwest in 1999. Original drummer Stephen Bladd declined the invitation and was replaced by Sim Cain. At the end of the trek, Peter Wolf elected to resume his solo career. Three years later he released his sixth album, "Sleepless", which despite not making the Billboard 200 chart, was later ranked #427 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Although they didn't officially regroup, The J. Geils band did play at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 26, 2005, for a cancer care charity show for the Cam Neely Foundation. Drummer Marty Richards sat in on that occasion. All six original members did play together again at a 60th birthday bash for bassist Danny Klein on May 22, 2006 at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston. In 2009, the band got back together on six different occasions, performing at the new House Of Blues in Boston on February 19th, the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit on April 25 and 26, the House Of Blues again on April 28, the Borgata Hotel/Casino on July 11th and New Year's Eve at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Unsasville, Connecticut. The following January 23rd the band did a benefit show in Boston for Big Brothers / Big Sisters. August 14, 2010 saw them opening for Aerosmith at Fenway Park in Boston. A brief tour in 2011 followed, with Peter Wolf and J. Geils also doing separate solo appearances.

In August, 2012 The J. Geils Band, now including Kevin Barry and Duke Levine on guitars and Tom Arey on drums, set out on an eleven date, U.S. tour, but this time without J. Geils. He immediately filed a lawsuit, claiming the others were unlawfully using the group's trademarked name. The suit was unsuccessful and Geils announced that he was quitting the band permanently. The rest of the group continued on and appeared at shows across America as the opening act for Bon Jovi in 2013. Solo gigs and performances with Bob Seger And the Silver Bullet Band followed in late 2014 and early 2015. One final string of shows filled that summer, with the band's farewell appearance coming in Detroit. The band was nominated for inclusion in Cleveland's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2017, and 2018, although none were successful.

On April 11, 2017, after being asked to perform a well-being check, Groton Massachusetts Police found John Warren Geils Jr., better known as J. Geils, unresponsive at his home. He was pronounced dead from natural causes at the age of 71.