Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
This is one of the toughest columns I’ve ever had to write. I’m in tears as I sit here putting words together to properly pay tribute to local South Jersey music legend George DJ ‘G-Force’ Lind, who sadly passed away from cancer a few weeks ago.
George was a veritable walking encyclopedia of music and pop culture. At various times he was a record store owner (he owned a small store on Ventnor Avenue in Margate in the 1980s, where Jamaican Me Crazy sits now). He was a clubs/concert promoter; as one of the ‘Diaz Brothers,’ Lind, myself, and two other now-passed locals, Dennis Ruley and Steve DeLucry, he promoted indie punk and metal shows at Red’s Dance Club in Margate (formerly The Ivory) and the long-gone Omni in Absecon).
He was an important presence on local radio station WLFR 91.7FM (Lake Fred Radio), where he did his popular “Radios Appear” for many years. In a Facebook post, WLFR wrote, “Rest In Power George Lind, aka DJ G-Force, who did one of the best rock ‘n’ roll shows ever on WLFR. Besides being a huge helper behind the scenes at the Atlantic City Elks Lodge punk shows from 1984-85, George was one of the infamous “Diaz Brothers.” Hey everybody, remember to say an unholy prayer for this ne’er do well, vinyl slappin’, turntable dustin’ porkhead tonight. He loved each and every one of you from the pit of his deep, black heart. Keep it rockin’ on the other side, homes.”
That’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. During the early to mid 2000s, Lind promoted indie rock shows at a slew of venues long since closed: The Boneyard on Virginia Avenue in Atlantic City; Duke Mack’s on the AC Boardwalk (from 1999 till the venue closed in 2003), where, among other great shows, he brought national act, The Strokes, to town; Maguire’s Greater Pittsburgh on Tennessee Avenue, which became Maloney’s Uptown.
Also the Le Grand Fromage in Gordon’s Alley; and, in Somers Point where he resided, Gregory’s (deejayed on Monday nights and was a regular at their popular Taco Tuesdays) and The Pearl Chinese Restaurant.
G-Force also deejayed at the original House of Blues in Showboat when it was still a casino, at many memorable ‘after parties’ in the venue’s Foundation Room. Indeed, George found his niche’ as a rock ‘n’ roll guy in a casino town – no easy feat.
What I’ll personally remember George Lind for? He was one of my first friends when I first moved to Atlantic City in 1989, and he probably taught me more about indie/underground artists and bands than anyone I’ve ever known.
I can never forget when G-Force, Dennis Ruley and myself rented a house on Texas Avenue. I was writing a music column for The Whoot! Newspaper back then, in the mid-1980s, and George would play bands such as The Dead Kennedys, DOA, and more locally, Philly groups like The Dead Milkmen and Ruin, at 3 in the morning! lol.
I got to see George for the last time in October of 2022, when he deejayed a Motohead tribute show at the Anchor Rock Club. By that time, his cancer had kicked in hard and it was a struggle for him, but he always kept a strong persona with his trademark sarcasm and loud laugh that could make anyone smile.
“G was a larger-than-life character in my life I will never forget,” said local music aficionado Mike Kelly. “His passion for all things cool never wavered. He was always generous in sharing his knowledge with the world.”
R.I.P. G-Force. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug also hàs experience writing for the one time shore-based weekly publication, Whoot! He also was a team member with Chip Braymes Advertising. Doug loves bicycling and aspires to bring the Blues to Atlantic City. He can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com and www.facebook.com/dougdeutschpublicity.
