Peter Frampton Rocks Clearwater’s New Venue “The Sound”
In 1976, I added a hot new album to my record collection by a guitarist named Peter Frampton called “Frampton Comes Alive”! I was not aware at that time of his being a member of the English band “Humble Pie”. I had heard his songs on radio stations around the dial and I just had to have that record. Apparently so did everyone else around the world because it is one of the biggest selling albums of all time!
Peter at 73, continues to be one of our guitar greats into 2023. After much talk of retirement, Peter is back with the “Never Say Never” tour. Frampton was diagnosed with Inclusion-Body Myositis (IBM) in 2019, which is an inflammatory muscle disease. Frampton refuses to give in to the disease and will keep playing until he is unable. He made a rare appearance at the CMT Music Awards in April to honor his friend the late Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Since then, he decided to never say never. His fingers are still working and will continue to play.
Arriving on stage assisted by a cane, he traded the cane for a guitar and Frampton is going to rock the new “Sound” stage with his incredible guitar licks. Frampton is amiable and friendly. His band are all sitting to play in respect to their leader, I thought it was a great move. A simple stage set up with a big screen and great sound. He clearly had a devoted fanbase in attendance, people standing and singing along. Frampton honors his beginnings by playing a “Humble Pie” tune, “Shine On”. He tells the story of his Gibson Les Paul guitar which was thought to be lost in a plane crash in Venezuela in 1980. It was recovered and he played “Lines on My Face” with it. A nod to the blues with his instrumental cover of the Ray Charles version of “Georgia on My Mind”.
Frampton is not only playing a hell of a guitar but his voice sounds amazing. Listening to anything from “Frampton Comes Alive”, just takes you back to 1976-77 era of FM radio and vinyl double albums. “Show Me the Way” and “Baby, I Love Your Way” almost brought a nostalgic tear. It is not just the old stuff, Peter pays homage to Chris Cornell and Soundgarden with “Black Hole Sun”. His version of The Beatles, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is as much his as The Beatles. Frampton is still not In the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, why not? He certainly belongs there along with his peers. Don’t miss this tour to see one of the astounding guitarists of our time. Check out Frampton.
Vicky Sullivan Photos