Stephen Jo Bladd

Vocation

American musician, a drummer and vocalist, member of J. Geils band from 1967 until the group split in 1985. Boyishly good looking he made a strong reputation as a legendary drummer/singer. In the mid 1960’s he was one of the founding members of the band, along with Peter Blankfield-better known as Peter Wolf- called the Hallucinations. While working on their musical career it is stated that they worked at a framing shop. At the same time a few young men moved to the Boston area to continue with their education and found them selves forming a group called J. Geils. In 1967 Bladd and Wolf joined the group which was renamed The J. Geils Band. For years the band played a mix of Blues and R&B with growing popularity in the New England area. By 1971, the band had landed a recording contract with Atlantic and released a self-titled debut that produced a minor Top 40 hit with the single “Looking for a Love”. The album won acclaim that prompted Rolling Stone magazine to name the J. Geils Band the most promising new act. The Band had played literally thousands of live performances by the time they recorded Bloodshot in 1973 and the hard work paid off in the band’s first Top 10 Album. In November of 1981, the band changed its venue from R&B/Blues to pop and had a real break. Billboard charts album, Freeze Frame, became #1 which spent four weeks there and remained on the chart for a total of 70 weeks and the single “Centerfold” from the same album spent 6 weeks at #1 making it one of the biggest hits of the year. In 1982 the live album “Showtime!” was the last the band recorded together. A falling out between band members due to song writing by Peter Wolf and outside talent caused a riff and Wolf left the band in 1983. The rest of the band including Bladd stayed together and recorded one more album, “You’re Gettin Even While I’m Gettin Odd”. It has been said that when Bladd sang the lead for “I Will Carry You Home” with a large gospel choir that he was ecstatic and uplifting and the band outdid itself. However, the “new” J. Geils Band’s record was a failure and the band broke up in 1985. On tours Bladd roomed with good friend and talent partner Danny Klein bassist. Together they have created powerful and underrated foundation for a rock solid rhythm section. Alone he has been known for his loose, unobtrusive gunshot drums that are the cornerstone of R&B. Bladd joined the J. Geils Band at a press conference in Boston on June 4, 1999. Mayor Tom Menino awarded them a “star” on the Tower Records walk of fame that day. Shortly after, the band left on a reunion tour which Bladd turned down due to his devotion to his children and grandchildren. He is now happily retired in Lexington Massachusetts with his family.