Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses

The memoir emphasizes how Peter Wolf’s early life helped shape his career. His mother was intelligent and hardworking but often neglected domestic responsibilities, placing an unhealthy amount of responsibility on Peter. Both his parents had a deep appreciation for the arts and alternative lifestyles. This exposure to creativity and nonconformity laid the foundation for Peter’s lifelong passion for artistic expression and those who followed that path.

Initially, Peter gravitated toward visual arts. Talented at drawing and painting, he attended the School of Music and Art in Harlem and later studied at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts. His time in Greenwich Village further immersed him in the creative scene, where he mingled with artists, poets, jazz, and folk musicians, including Bob Dylan. Peter had all kinds of highs and lows in the music industry and in his personal life as he worked to make the J. Geils Band a success and later tried to navigate his complex relationship with Faye Dunaway. His descriptions of his own experiences and those of numerous other artists thematically reflect The Joys and Pitfalls of Fame.

Peter had a rebellious and mischievous streak, often sneaking around and breaking rules with a mix of charm and daring.