J. Geils Band founder, of Centrefold fame, has died age 71

Musician John Warren Geils Jr was the founder of The J. Geils Band.

Groton police found him dead at his Massachusetts home on Tuesday night.

A preliminary investigation indicates that 71-year-old Geils died of natural causes, police said in a statement.

The J. Geils Band was founded in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, while Geils was studying mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The band opened for BB King, the Allman Brothers and The Byrds before reaching their own mainstream success.

Rest In Peace to founder of the J. Geils Band, John Warren Geils Jr. 1946-2017. #RIP pic.twitter.com/VsdqRyGEw4

— Classic Rock In Pics (@crockpics) April 12, 2017

Founder of the #jGeilsband John Warren Geils Jr., has died at 71. https://t.co/334PaUmzm2 pic.twitter.com/daNE6l4jPw

— American Blues Scene (@AmeriBluesScene) April 12, 2017

The first of their big hits, Love Stinks, a rant against unrequited love, was the title song on their 1980 album. It later featured in the Adam Sandler movie The Wedding Singer.

Centerfold, from the album Freeze Frame, released in 1981, charted at No 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982 and stayed for six weeks.

It also made No 1 in the Australian music charts.

This video was on heavy rotation when I was a kid & MTV was actually MTV. – RIP J. Geils- Centerfold https://t.co/6NPXc2QcS4

— Heather (@HeatherTeresa72) April 12, 2017

The band broke up in 1985 but reunited for tours.

Their most recent was as opening act for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band in 2014 and 2015.

What was your favourite J. Geils Band song?