Peter Frampton

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  • 1966
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About Peter Frampton

Official Site: http://frampton.com/ | @peterframpton | facebook.com/PeterFrampton


Peter Frampton was one of the biggest arena rock stars of the '70s, making his name largely on the double-LP concert set Frampton Comes Alive! Frampton was one of several '70s rock artists (Kiss, Cheap Trick, etc.) to break through to a wide audience with a live album; much like the others, he'd recorded several previous albums and built a following through extensive touring, in the process honing an exciting concert presence. That helped Frampton Comes Alive! become the best-selling live album of all time (up to that point), with eventual sales of over six million units in the U.S. and over 16 million copies worldwide. Frampton had paid nearly a decade's worth of dues before reaching superstardom, and unfortunately for him, it proved to be short-lived -- bad luck and a failure to duplicate the phenomenon of Frampton Comes Alive! conspired to halt his career momentum.

Peter Frampton was born April 22, 1950, in the town of Beckenham in Kent. He started playing guitar at age eight, and took several years of classical lessons. In his early teens, he played with rock & roll combos like the Little Ravens, the Trubeats, and the Preachers, the latter of which were managed by the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman and appeared on the TV show Ready, Steady, Go. In 1966, Frampton dropped out of school to join the mod-pop group the Herd, where he got his first taste of success. The Herd scored several British hits over 1967-1968, and Frampton's youthful good looks made him a teen idol, earning him the tag the "Face of 1968" from the music press. In 1969, Frampton left the Herd to form the harder-rocking Humble Pie with erstwhile Small Faces frontman Steve Marriott. Although Humble Pie was poised for a breakthrough after two years of touring, Frampton departed in 1971 over differences in musical direction, and decided to start a solo career.

Having already performed on George Harrison's landmark All Things Must Pass, Frampton contributed guitar work to Nilsson's Son of Schmilsson, and released his debut solo album, Wind of Change, in 1972. Despite help from the likes of Ringo Starr and Billy Preston, it failed to make much of an impact. Frampton next formed an official backing band dubbed Frampton's Camel, which included keyboardist Mickey Gallagher (Cochise), bassist Rick Wills (Bell & Arc), and drummer Mike Kellie (Spooky Tooth). Their 1973 album, Frampton's Camel, also sold disappointingly, but Frampton began to build a following through near-constant touring over the next few years. He broke up Frampton's Camel prior to the release of his next album, 1974's Somethin's Happening. The title would prove prophetic: The follow-up, Frampton, became his first hit LP in America, climbing into the Top 40 in 1975 and going gold.

By this point, Frampton had amassed a considerable catalog of underexposed songs, the best of which were tightly constructed and laden with hooks. He'd also developed into a top concert draw, since he was able to inject those songs with an energy that was sometimes missing from his studio outings. Plus, in concert, he often expanded the songs into vehicles for his economical, tasteful guitar playing, and his pioneering use of the talk-box guitar effect became a trademark part of his performances. All those elements came together on Frampton Comes Alive!, a double-LP set recorded at San Francisco's Winterland in 1975. The album was a surprise smash, rocketing to the top of the charts (where it stayed for ten weeks) and selling over 16 million copies worldwide to become the most popular live album yet released. It stayed on the charts for nearly two years, and spawned Frampton's first three hit singles: "Baby, I Love Your Way" and the Top Tens "Do You Feel Like We Do" and "Show Me the Way." Naturally, his supporting tour was a multimillion-dollar blockbuster as well. When the dust settled, Frampton was a star, and Rolling Stone named him its Artist of the Year.

Under pressure from A&M to deliver a quick follow-up, Frampton fought his better judgment and went back to the studio, instead of taking a break to rest and let his success sink in. The result was I'm in You, which rose to the number two spot on the album charts soon after its release in 1977. Its title track did the same on the singles charts, giving Frampton the biggest hit of his career. In the wake of the Frampton Comes Alive! phenomenon, it was perhaps inevitable that many fans would regard I'm in You as a disappointment; even if it sold over three million copies, its hasty writing process showed through in spots. Unfortunately, 1978 was a disastrous year for Frampton. He made a high-profile acting debut playing Billy Shears in the big-budget film version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a tremendous critical and commercial flop. In June, he was involved in a near-fatal car accident in the Bahamas, sustaining a concussion, multiple broken bones, and muscle damage; to make matters worse, he and his longtime girlfriend also ended their relationship. Frampton recovered fully from his accident, only to endure a brief slide into drug abuse. His 1979 album Where I Should Be only went gold, and its biggest hit was the Top 20 "I Can't Stand It No More" -- respectable, but nonetheless a startling drop-off from the success Frampton had just recently enjoyed.

Frampton seemed increasingly directionless as the '80s dawned. He cut his hair prior to the release of 1981's Breaking All the Rules, but the new image failed to send it higher than the lower reaches of the Top 50. The following year's The Art of Control was an unequivocal flop, and Frampton retreated from the music business for several years. He returned on Virgin in 1986 with Premonition, and though it wasn't a smash hit, he did get substantial rock radio airplay for the cut "Lying." The following year, Frampton played on onetime schoolmate David Bowie's Never Let Me Down album and accompanying tour. He recorded another new album, When All the Pieces Fit, for Atlantic in 1989, and had been planning a reunion with Steve Marriott not long before Marriott's tragic death in a 1991 house fire. Frampton subsequently started touring again, and cut an eponymous album for Relativity in 1994 that was later reissued by Sony Legacy. The following year, he issued the newly recorded live album Frampton Comes Alive II on IRS. During the late '90s, he recorded and toured with Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings and Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. Frampton's first DVD, Live in Detroit, a newly recorded concert that was also issued on CD by CMC International, was released in 2000. Now, his first studio album in nine years, arrived in 2004. It was followed in 2006 by the all-instrumental Fingerprints. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

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Music

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  • A&M 50 Webisode
    peter-frampton
    Video
    A&M 50 Webisode
  • Do You Feel Like We Do
    peter-frampton
    Video
    Do You Feel Like We Do
  • Baby, I Love Your Way
    peter-frampton
    Video
    Baby, I Love Your Way
  • Road To The Sun
    peter-frampton
    Video
    Road To The Sun
  • 69195
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
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    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Baby, I Love Your Way
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/3/6/7/4/3/915234763.mp3
    • Show Me The Way
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/6/0/4/4/3/915234406.mp3
    • I'm In You
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/8/1/4/3/915234187.mp3
    • Baby, I Love Your Way (Live)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/3/3/1/1/8/901881133.mp3
    • Introduction/Somethin's Happening (Live)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/0/4/0/4/901840407.mp3
    • Show Me The Way (Live)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/5/2/6/0/4/901840625.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • Quest for a Beer [1987]
    peter-frampton
    video
    Quest for a Beer [1987]

Photos

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  • CMC International Records
    Peter Frampton
    CMC International Records
    Tony Baker

News

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  • Peter Frampton
    ASCAP Pop Music Awards Toast Trent Reznor, Carly Simon, Peter Frampton, Max Martin
    American Songwriter
    group The Smeezingtons. Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor picked up the ASCAP Golden Note Award, which recognizes artists who have achieved extrao...
    Read More
  • Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton Wrecked By Texter | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet Don't text and drive, kids. You might end up slamming into a rock n' roll legend, and then you'll probably have to feel bad about yourself for a...
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  • Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton: FCA35 Tour: An Evening With Peter Frampton
    American Songwriter
    Peter Frampton FCA35 Tour: An Evening With Peter Frampton (Eagle Vision) Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars The trend of classic '70s and 80s 'acts (re)play...
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  • Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton Plans Summer 2013 Tour with Superstar Guitarists | Billboard
    www.billboard.com
    Peter Frampton will take a collection of guitarists on tour in the summer under the title of Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus. B.B. King is the first gu...
    Read More
  • Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton to Tour with B.B. King, Sonny Landreth and Robert Cray
    www.jambands.com
    Peter Frampton will hit the road for his Guitar Circus tour this summer. The esteemed guitarist will perform several shows with five-time Grammy Award...
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  • Peter Frampton
    Frampton's Guitar Circus (Peter Frampton, B.B. King, Sonny Landreth) to Play Musikfest
    www.jambands.com
    take place on 13 of the 14 stages. Headlining performances will take place at the Sands Steel Stage. The festival will kick off with folk singer John ...
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  • Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton Helps The Black Crowes Cover Humble Pie
    www.jambands.com
    Peter Frampton sat in with The Black Crowes last night at during the first show of their two-night run at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The legendary ...
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  • Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton Turns Eye to Humble Pie Box Set
    www.billboard.com
    From ballet to the circus to dishing up some Humble Pie, Peter Frampton has plenty on his plate these days. Perhaps the most exciting news is the impe...
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  • Peter Frampton
    David Hidalgo, Davy Knowles, Roger McGuinn, BB King, Robert Cray and More Join Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus
    www.jambands.com
    Peter Frampton will set out on a unique summer trek dubbed Frampton's Guitar Circus. The tour is set to start in May, with five-time Grammy Award winn...
    Read More
  • Peter Frampton
    David Hidalgo, Davy Knowles, Robert McGuinn, BB King, Robert Cray and More Join Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus
    www.jambands.com
    Peter Frampton will set out on a unique summer trek dubbed Frampton's Guitar Circus. The tour is set to start in May, with five-time Grammy Award winn...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • May 28 Tuesday
    Nashville, TN, US Ryman Auditorium
    Buy Ticket
  • May 31 Friday
    Hollywood, FL, US Hard Rock Live
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  • Jun 1 Saturday
    Saint Augustine, FL, US St. Augustine Amphitheatre
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  • Jun 2 Sunday
    Clearwater, FL, US Ruth Eckerd Hall
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  • Jun 5 Wednesday
    Grand Prairie, TX, US Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
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  • Jun 7 Friday
    Austin, TX, US Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
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  • Jun 8 Saturday
    Midland, TX, US Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
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  • Jun 9 Sunday
    Houston, TX, US Arena Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 11 Tuesday
    Saint Charles, MO, US Family Arena
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  • Jun 13 Thursday
    Windsor, ON, Canada The Colosseum, Caesar's Windsor
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  • Jun 14 Friday
    Rama, ON, Canada Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
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  • Jun 15 Saturday
    Pittsburgh, PA, US Stage AE
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  • Jun 19 Wednesday
    Indianapolis, IN, US The Lawn at White River State Park
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  • Jun 20 Thursday
    Columbus, OH, US Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
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  • Jun 21 Friday
    Jackson, MN, US Historic State Theatre
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  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Cleveland, OH, US Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
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  • Jun 23 Sunday
    Huntington, NY, US The Paramount
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  • Jun 24 Monday
    Lancaster, PA, US American Music Theatre
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  • Jun 27 Thursday
    New York, NY, US Beacon Theatre
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  • Jun 28 Friday
    Rochester, NY, US Eastman Theatre
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  • Jun 30 Sunday
    Webster, MA, US Indian Ranch
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  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Durant, OK, US Choctaw Event Center
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  • Jul 14 Sunday
    San Antonio, TX, US Majestic Theatre
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  • Jul 16 Tuesday
    Corpus Christi, TX, US Selena Auditorium At the American Bank Center
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  • Jul 20 Saturday
    Dubuque, IA, US Diamond Jo Casino
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  • Jul 21 Sunday
    Minneapolis, MN, US State Theatre
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  • Jul 23 Tuesday
    Beaver Creek, CO, US Vilar Performing Arts Center
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  • Jul 26 Friday
    Airway Heights, WA, US Northern Quest Casino
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  • Jul 27 Saturday
    Manson, WA, US Deep Water Amphitheater
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  • Jul 28 Sunday
    Tulalip, WA, US The Tulalip Amphitheatre
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  • Aug 2 Friday
    Bethlehem, PA, US Musikfest - Town Square Stage
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  • Aug 5 Monday
    Bethlehem, PA, US Sands Steel Stage at PNC Plaza
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  • Aug 7 Wednesday
    Simsbury, CT, US Summer Concerts at Simsbury Meadows
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  • Aug 8 Thursday
    Baltimore, MD, US Pier Six Concert Pavilion
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  • Aug 10 Saturday
    Atlantic City, NJ, US Trump Taj Mahal
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  • Aug 11 Sunday
    Vienna, VA, US Filene Center, Wolf Trap
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  • Aug 13 Tuesday
    Alpharetta, GA, US Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
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  • Aug 14 Wednesday
    Cincinnati, OH, US PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
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  • Aug 16 Friday
    Aurora, IL, US RiverEdge Park
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  • Aug 17 Saturday
    Council Bluffs, IA, US Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel
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  • Aug 17 Saturday
    Council Bluffs, IA, US Stir Cove, Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 18 Sunday
    Kansas City, MO, US Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
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  • Aug 20 Tuesday
    Morrison, CO, US Red Rocks Amphitheatre
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  • Aug 23 Friday
    Las Vegas, NV, US Lvh Theater - Las Vegas Hotel
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 24 Saturday
    Los Angeles, CA, US Greek Theatre
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  • Aug 25 Sunday
    San Diego, CA, US San Diego Civic Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 28 Wednesday
    Saratoga, CA, US Mountain Winery
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 30 Friday
    Lincoln, CA, US Thunder Valley Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 31 Saturday
    Paso Robles, CA, US Vina Robles Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 20 Sunday
    Paris, France Zénith
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • Thank You Mr. Churchill (2010)
    Peter Frampton
    Thank You Mr. Churchill (2010)
    Universal Music Enterprises
  • Fingerprints (2006)
    Peter Frampton
    Fingerprints (2006)
    AM
  • Now (2003)
    Peter Frampton
    Now (2003)
    33rd Street Records
  • Live in Detroit (2000)
    Peter Frampton
    Live in Detroit (2000)
    CMC International
  • Beat the Bootleggers: Coming Live (1999)
    Peter Frampton
    Beat the Bootleggers: Coming Live (1999)
    Griffin Music
  • Love Taker (1995)
    Peter Frampton
    Love Taker (1995)
    Pilz
  • Frampton Comes Alive II (1995)
    Peter Frampton
    Frampton Comes Alive II (1995)
    El Dorado
  • Peter Frampton (1994)
    Peter Frampton
    Peter Frampton (1994)
    Legacy Recordings
  • A Day in the Sun (1994)
    Peter Frampton
    A Day in the Sun (1994)
    Sony Music Distribution
  • When All the Pieces Fit (1989)
    Peter Frampton
    When All the Pieces Fit (1989)
    Atlantic
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