Come as You Are

The Zoo Crew is spinning the infectious Come as You Are by Peter Wolf, a track from his 1987 album of the same name, and the Zoo Freaks are surely hopping to its vibrant beat. This song, a standout in Wolf’s solo career, climbed to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, cementing its place as a quintessential '80s rock anthem. The music video is a delightful nod to the 1953 film Small Town Girl, where Bobby Van’s energetic street dance inspired Wolf’s own lively hopping through a retro-styled town. In the video, Wolf even passes a poster for Small Town Girl, a cheeky tribute to his source material. A quirky anecdote from a fan blog recounts Wolf’s experience filming this video: he took a new insomnia medication the night before, only to learn after shooting that it caused short-term memory loss, leaving him unaware he’d already completed the hopping scenes. The drug was later pulled from the market, but Wolf’s performance remains unforgettable.

Another layer of trivia comes from fan discussions on platforms like Power Pop Blog, where some playfully note that the song’s riff bears a resemblance to The Clash’s style, jokingly suggesting they might have “wanted their riff back.” Wolf himself has shared in interviews, such as one with Rolling Stone, that his solo work, including Come as You Are, was about channeling his love for raw rock, blues, and R&B, drawing from the eclectic influences of his youth. The song’s “woo-woo” backing vocals and beefy production, as noted in a PopRedux80 review, create a party vibe that’s hard to resist, making it a perfect fit for the Zoo Crew’s high-energy broadcasts. Fans on Amazon reviews recall the video’s lasting impact, with one sharing how it stuck in their memory for decades until they rediscovered Wolf as the voice behind both this hit and J. Geils Band classics like Centerfold.

Peter Wolf’s journey to rock stardom began in the Bronx, New York, where he was born Peter Walter Blankfield on March 7, 1946. Growing up in an artistic, politically engaged family, he was steeped in music from an early age, frequently visiting the Apollo Theater to see soul, R&B, and gospel acts that shaped his vocal style. His passion for the arts led him to Boston, where he studied painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts on a scholarship, sharing a room with future filmmaker David Lynch. Music, however, was his true calling. In 1964, Wolf formed The Hallucinations with fellow art students, playing gritty rock and blues at Boston’s Combat Zone nightclubs and sharing stages with legends like Muddy Waters and The Velvet Underground. His encyclopedic music knowledge landed him a gig as an all-night DJ at WBCN, where he adopted the persona “Woofa Goofa,” spinning raw rock and blues while interviewing touring artists. This role amplified his local fame and set the stage for his next big step: fronting The J. Geils Band, which he joined in 1967 and led to global success with hits like Freeze Frame before going solo in 1983.

Today, fans can keep up with Peter Wolf through his official website, where updates on his music and his 2025 memoir Waiting on the Moon are shared, including details on acoustic storytelling tours. His Facebook page, with over 51,000 followers, offers personal posts about performances and book launches, while his Instagram showcases vibrant photos from his career and recent events. On X, Wolf engages with fans, sharing reflections on his music and upcoming shows. For Zoo Freaks looking to connect with fellow enthusiasts, fan-driven spaces like the J. Geils Band Fan Group on Facebook provide a hub for sharing memories and celebrating Wolf’s work, both solo and with the band. Websites like The Music Museum of New England also honor his legacy, detailing his contributions to rock and his enduring status as a dynamic frontman.