logo
Peter Wolf is ready to look back

Peter Wolf is ready to look back

Boston Globe07-03-2025

Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
But as the subtitle suggests, music is just one of Wolf's many muses. In his private life, which he guards carefully, Wolf is an aesthete of the first order. His home is packed with books, and he loves talking about classic films — a passion for art and culture that imbues the whole memoir.
Advertisement
'Waiting on the Moon' regales readers not only with tales from the rock 'n' roll trenches, but also encounters with Alfred Hitchcock, Tennessee Williams, Julia Child, and Martin Scorsese, to name a few. Yes, there are a couple of chapters about his five-year marriage to Faye Dunaway. But he had little interest in writing a 'kiss and tell' or a standard rock-survivor memoir, as he explained over a long, leisurely interview at his house.
'I would almost call it a fan's notes, [about] my experience with these artists that I really admire,' Wolf said, nibbling on French bread and cheese in his open-plan kitchen. His aim, he said, was to 'make it about them, not about me.'
It's almost as if he's still channeling that moonlighting DJ, the young man who enthused to the point of bursting on the airwaves until the wee hours of the morning about his favorite performers, the wiry kid who grew up revering Alan Freed, Symphony Sid, and the other mid-century radio personalities who made the music come alive.
Advertisement
A chronic night owl, Wolf was born for that kind of connection — 'that nocturnal aspect of being out there, alone in a studio, not knowing who might be listening. But you're putting all this energy into some spirit out there, some imaginary person.'
A Bronx native, he came to Boston
The Hallucinations sounded like a combination of Van Morrison's hard-edged garage band, Them, and the Yardbirds, Wolf said.
'We would have been classified as a punk band in a certain sense,' he said. For his next solo album, which he claimed is 'about 80 percent finished,' he has recorded a new version of 'Love's Not So Easily Had,' one of the originals the Hallucinations recorded with Tashian but never released.
From left: lead singer Peter Wolf, J. Geils, Stephen Bladd, and Danny Klein perform with the J. Geils Band at the Boston Garden on Feb. 11, 1979.
Janet Knott/Globe Staff
Over nearly 20 years beginning in the late 1960s, the J. Geils Band brought Wolf's lifelong love of deep-cut soul music to hard-partying rock 'n' roll crowds. After meeting guitarist John Geils and harmonica player Richard Salwitz (better known as 'Magic Dick') in a Boston coffeehouse, Wolf became the band's lead singer.
Advertisement
Signed to Atlantic Records ahead of their 1970 debut album, they shared the stage with some of the all-time greats, including the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers, and Chuck Berry. Renowned for their relentlessly energetic live show, the Geils Band reserved opening slots for up-and-coming acts that included the Eagles, Tom Petty, and U2. In the early '80s, after a move to EMI Records, the band scored major hit albums with 'Love Stinks' and 'Freeze Frame.'
But although the Geils Band has been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame five times, most recently in 2018,
'Blindsided, I walked out of that meeting in shock,' he writes. 'It was one of the coldest days of my life.' That chapter is called 'Fratricide.'
Yet he quickly found his footing as a solo artist, scoring an immediate hit with 'Lights Out' and recording a song with the legendary Aretha Franklin (yes, there's a chapter on that). Because of those successes, Wolf figures that 'probably 90 percent' of the Geils Band's fans to this day assume he left of his own accord.
The band, meanwhile, imploded after one Wolf-less album. They reunited periodically over the years, including a show-stopping set at the all-star Boston Strong event at the TD Garden after the Marathon bombings in 2013. But it was never the same for Wolf.
Wolf in 1990, before the release of his third solo album following his 1983 departure from the J. Geils Band.
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff
Instead, he devoted his considerable energy to crafting a solo career that has drawn on a more laid-back brand of Americana and country soul, featuring a band led by the impeccable Boston-based guitarist Duke Levine. Wolf's friend Mick Jagger joined him on the 2002 track 'Nothing But the Wheel,' and one of his biggest heroes, Merle Haggard, cut a duet with him in 2010 called 'It's Too Late for Me.'
Advertisement
'When I first heard that, I listened to it over and over,' said Guralnick, who has known Wolf since the late 1960s. 'I can't imagine a deeper truth.'
Wolf, said Guralnick, is 'entirely motivated by his own interests and impulses, and he has been from the start.' His unusual memoir, Guralnick said, is 'a realization of a total vision, his fascination with the world around him. He always has this inquisitive sensibility.'
While explaining his approach to writing the book, Wolf is quick to reference some of the vignette-filled nonfiction writing that inspired him — Truman Capote's 'The Dogs Bark: Public People and Private Places' (1973), for instance, or the editor Michael Korda's 'Another Life: A Memoir of Other People' (1999).
'It was based on [Christopher] Isherwood's quote, 'I am a camera, with its shutter open,'' he said.
In conversation, he told several stories that didn't make the final cut for the book. Like the time the Geils Band, frustrated by their inability to get booked as the musical act on 'Saturday Night Live,' instead
Or like the time Wolf hung out with the great Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard (he's the guy who famously described country music as 'three chords and the truth'). When Howard mentioned how much he loved Dunaway's role in 'Bonnie and Clyde' (1967), Wolf let him in on a little secret (to Howard, at least): He'd once been married to her.
Advertisement
To prove it to his incredulous drinking partner, Wolf dialed up his ex-wife and put her on the phone. Howard had written 'Pick Me Up on Your Way Down,' which was Dunaway's favorite song, and she told him so.
Even in the final draft of the book, Wolf is judicious about his memories. He's been friendly with another notoriously private rock star, Bob Dylan, for decades. But he doesn't reveal any of that: Instead, he recalls their earliest encounters, back when Dylan was a newcomer on the Greenwich Village folk scene and Wolf was still Peter Blankfield from the Bronx. (He took on his stage name after having his picture taken with the blues giant Howlin' Wolf.)
'Rather than beating his chest,' as Guralnick noted, 'he talks about how he was stealing drinks from Dylan as a young punk. It's one of the things that's so winning about the book.'
As a rock 'n' roll frontman, Wolf epitomized the wild man, getting lost in the music. As a DJ in his early years, he was always full-steam ahead: 'Riding through the motions of the oceans, having fun until the midnight sun.'
But now, as he turns 79, he has finally found the time to look back and capture some memories that are worth preserving.
PETER WOLF
In conversation with Peter Guralnick. Presented by Harvard Book Store. Tuesday, March 11, 7 p.m. $38 includes a copy of the book 'Waiting on the Moon.' First Parish Church, 1446 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.
James Sullivan can be reached at
.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

19 Gel Nail Ideas for June That Put Us In a Summer State of Mind
19 Gel Nail Ideas for June That Put Us In a Summer State of Mind

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

19 Gel Nail Ideas for June That Put Us In a Summer State of Mind

Gel nails are a summer staple for any beauty lover. With more time spent swimming, gardening, going on vacation, and simply enjoying the outdoors, having a durable and long-lasting manicure is essential this time of year, and that's exactly what you'll get with gel nails (we're talking manis that last 10 to 14 days). Now that June is finally here, it's time to start thinking about the fun summer gel manis we all want to try. From colorful French tips to seaside- and floral-inspired designs, we can officially break out the bright colors and elaborate seasonal nail art. Ahead, our 19 favorite gel nail ideas for June that are perfect for summery days ahead. There's nothing like golden hour in the summer months. Bring a touch of gold to your nails with this multi-finish mani. Get a color-blocking effect with this bright and sunny nail art design. We're envisioning sitting by the pool with a cold drink in hand, showing off this stunning mani. Come June, flowers are on full display. It seems only right to have a manicure to match. Wear your favorite flower on each nail for a totally custom mani. Who said brown nail polishes are only for autumn? This Western-inspired design with French tips is perfect for outdoorsy summer nights, whether you're at the rodeo or just looking for a mani that matches everything. Neons and summer go hand-in-hand. Take a slightly different approach by incorporating all your favorite neon colors across your nails for a rainbow-like effect. Turquoise, pink, and flowers—can it get more summery than that? This June, try an out-of-the-box seaside-inspired mani like this one. We're dreaming of taking these nails on a Caribbean vacation. Citrus fruits, sunsets, marigolds, and more—all summery orange things we love. Add this dewdrop mani to the list. Aura nails will forever be one of our favorite simple yet show-stopping nail art ideas. Choose two of your favorite nail polish shades for June, and create the look by painting one color for the base and airbrushing the other color on top. Sipping strawberry lemonade this month? Get the nails to match. This beautiful ombré gradient flows seamlessly from pink to yellow. Use builder gel and rhinestones to create this mix-and-match floral manicure. The nails' long, stiletto shape makes this blooming set look extra eye-catching. Tomato girl summer, coquette bows, and strawberries pretty much sum up peak girlhood lately. Give your manicure a feminine touch by adding these girly additions to each nail. Dress up what is an otherwise simple nude manicure with silver foil detailing. Experiment with your favorite summer shades to create a seasonally inspired, customized manicure that's just for you. With trends like aura nails and French tips all the rage, incorporate your go-to nail art for this unique manicure. A baby blue French manicure with florals is perfect for June, right when we're transitioning from spring to summer. Add rhinestones to zhuzh things up. No one was ever the same after Hailey Bieber first debuted her glazed donut nails. They take on a different life with this emerald green base. Paint your nails with your dark green gel polish, and after curing, wipe chrome powder on top of each nail to get the effect. Set your fingertips ablaze with red flames. The fiery red designs contrast with the pink and blue base, adding a touch of flair (ahem, flare) to the manicure. Cat-eye nail designs have become popular in every shade and design, including these muted colors. Apply a cat-eye magnetic gel polish, then create the swirls by hovering a magnet above the nails in a circular motion. There's something alien-esque about these pink nails with silver chrome detailing. If you're not a pink person, use any other color for your base (just make sure the silver will still pop!). Jelly nails for summer? Yes please. Paint them a Barbie pink color for ultimate summer vibes. Read the original article on Byrdie

Trump to attend 'Les Misérables' premiere as protests persist across the country
Trump to attend 'Les Misérables' premiere as protests persist across the country

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Trump to attend 'Les Misérables' premiere as protests persist across the country

President Donald Trump is set to attend the opening night of 'Les Misérables,' a musical set against a background of revolution and protest, at Washington, D.C.'s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday. 'I love the songs, I love the play,' Trump told Fox News Digital last week. 'I think it's great.' The opening night of a monthlong run of the Tony Award-winning show comes amid widespread protests against the president's immigration policies and his decision to deploy members of the military in response. Protesting against power is a major theme in the show, which is centered around student-led demonstrations against the French monarchy. 'Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, the musical tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption — a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit,' reads the official summary on the Kennedy Center's website. Songs from the musical have been used in protests against governments around the world since the show debuted in 1980, including by pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong in 2019. Protesters sang one of the show's most popular and recognizable hits, 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' which includes the lyrics, 'Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men?' The show will be the first production Trump has attended as head of the Kennedy Center. He did not attend any performances during his first term in office, and in February he replaced the entire board of trustees and had himself named chairman of the board. The shake-up resulted in some concerts being canceled — including a performance by the Gay Men's Chorus in honor of Pride Month — and other artists and productions pulling out of planned shows to protest the changes, including actor Issa Rae and a production of 'Hamilton.' 'Our show simply cannot, in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center,' 'Hamilton' producer Jeffrey Seller said in a statement in March. A spokesperson for "Les Miz" said Wednesday, 'We are looking forward to performing for DC audiences beginning tonight and throughout the engagement at the Kennedy Center, where the US first saw the original production in 1986.' The performance Wednesday is serving as a fundraiser for the Kennedy Center. First lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, are expected to attend as well. Security will be tightened around the venue for the performance, the Kennedy Center said. 'Please be advised the Kennedy Center will be closed to non-ticket holders on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, due to enhanced security protocols,' the venue's website said. This article was originally published on

If you have to watch one Netflix movie in June 2025, stream this one
If you have to watch one Netflix movie in June 2025, stream this one

Digital Trends

time6 hours ago

  • Digital Trends

If you have to watch one Netflix movie in June 2025, stream this one

If you're trying to decide what to watch on a given streaming service, one of the best ways to make you decide to view the recent arrivals on that service and what might be leaving soon. Netflix is filled with great movies, but most of them feel like the same old things you see every time you log in. If you're looking for something new, though, Rear Window was just added to the streamer in June. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Rear Window is one of the best ever made. Here are three reasons you should make the time to check it out: Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. It's perfectly staged Rear Window tells the story of a restless photographer who takes to spying on his neighbors because he's been waylaid by a broken leg. What begins as a bit of creepy but lighthearted fun slowly gets more serious as he becomes convinced that one of his neighbors murdered his wife. As he tries to convince his girlfriend, nurse, and friend that his neighbor is guilty, we follow all the action right alongside the main character. Rear Window is staged out the window of its title. The film even opens with a curtain being raised, almost like a performance. Everything about this elaborate backlot set is perfectly staged, so much so that you feel like you're watching a real New York street. It's remarkably tense You might think that there's no way a movie made in 1954 could possibly hold the attention of a modern audience, but Rear Window's moments of suspense are better than those in almost any other movie. Although the central photographer spends most of the film simply watching the action from a distance, that only works to make things more suspenseful. As we become more convinced that something sinister's at work, the movie's central character and the audience become the same: people watching the action unfold who find themselves unable to intervene to prevent something terrible from happening. It's a brilliant, wholly original formal conceit. It features the luminous Grace Kelly Although the surface-level plot of Rear Window is about a man who suspects his neighbor of murder, the movie is at least as much about one man's obsession with watching the world and his disinterest in actually living in it. That's embodied by his girlfriend, played by the incredible Grace Kelly. Kelly plays Lisa, a woman of high fashion who's desperate for her boyfriend to pay her even a little bit of attention. Given that she looks and behaves like Grace Kelly, the fact that he doesn't is frankly outrageous. Once she gets involved in the action he cares about, he starts to change his tune in ways both fascinating and enthralling. You can watch Rear Window on Netflix.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store