August 7, 2012 13:37

J Geils Band is being sued by J Geils

Founding member claims bandmates 'planned and conspired' to exclude him from an upcoming tour

Photo: Getty

J Geils is suing the other members of the band that uses his name.

In a lawsuit filed in Boston Superior Court earlier this month, Geils claims that his four colleagues "planned and conspired" to prevent him from performing with them on an upcoming J Geils Band tour. The eleven-date US tour had been scheduled to begin on August 25 in Syracuse, New York.

John "J" Geils - the band's singer, lead guitarist and one of its founding members - is now seeking damages and full rights to the J Geils Band name.

His lawyer Charles Grimes told Reuters: "Together they're the J Geils Band, but separately they're Mr Wolf, Mr Salwitz , Mr Klein, and Mr Justman. They do not have the right to take his name and use it, and try to deny him the right to use his own name."

However, an attorney representing the other members of the The J Geils Band pledged to contest the allegations made by Geils and Francesca Records, a label he co-owns. "We will address the claims in the lawsuit including our own claims against John Geils and Francesca Records at the appropriate time," he said.

Formed in 1967, The J Geils Band recorded 13 studio albums and scored a US Number One hit with 1981's 'Centerfold' before disbanding in 1985. They reunited for live dates in 1999 and then again in 2009 and 2010, both times with Geils in the line-up. Scroll up to watch the band's classic 'Centerfold' video.

The world's greatest music magazine is now available as a digital edition! For exclusive content you won't find on NME.COM, download here on your iPad/iPhone and here on your Kindle Fire or Nook.

Share on Facebook