23/04/2023
Examples Of The Beatles’ Immeasurable Influence :
“I never forgot the humbleness of George Harrison when I was asked to record guitar tracks for his ‘All Things Must Pass’ album. He was the lead guitar player in the Beatles so I expected to play rhythm. I was shocked that he wanted me to play lead instead, proving how in check his ego was.”
“The thing that impressed me the most about George was he personally called me on the phone himself to ask me to attend the sessions. Usually a musician of his caliber would have their manager or assistant contact you. With George that wasn’t the case. I never forgot that. “
“ Paul McCartney and his song ‘Blackbird’ totally influenced me to write the song ‘Baby I Love Your Way’. It’s hard to explain since the two songs sound nothing alike. But the style Paul played is just something I picked up on. “
Peter Frampton
(The Howard Stern Show 2016, and 2019 Interviews)
Happy 73rd birthday to the legendary Peter Frampton who to this day remains not only one of the most underrated guitar players on the planet, but also one of the nicest rock stars you will ever meet. Even at the height of his career in the late 1970s when he was one of the biggest rock stars in the world music journalists, musicians, and fans always spoke of what a down to earth and great person he was.
He grew up with David Bowie, and had Bill Wyman as a mentor in his early years, (which if you know the history of Wyman drove his mother crazy.) I could listen to him tell stories all day about his life as a musician in bands like The Herd, and Humble Pie, as well as his solo career.
He’s a musician that has been to the top of the mountain as far as success goes, and also has had to bottom out. He’s actually one of the few artists that had to deal with his good looks actually hurting his career. With the music press taking that more seriously than his talents as a guitar player and songwriter.
In the 1980s his friend David Bowie would help to regenerate his reputation and career as a guitar player by having Frampton join him on his worldwide “Glass Spider” tour, where he got some of his greatest reviews for his guitar playing.
He also made news years ago when he was reunited with his favorite guitar (a black Gibson Les Paul he now calls “The Phenix” since it has risen from the ashes, and the one in the picture above,) that he used to record all of his classic albums of the 1970s and thought was destroyed in a plane crash decades earlier . (I’ll post the link in the comments section of him getting it back.)
In 2019 Peter promoted his farewell tour because he felt that his days playing guitar were numbered since he was dealing with health issues that he expected to make it impossible to keep playing. Thankfully now in 2023 he’s planning to go back on the road thanks to treatments he’s received that have done wonders for him and wants to celebrate by playing the instrument he’s mastered the last 60 years. His guitar. And as for his legacy as a performer ? “Frampton Comes Alive” is still the greatest selling live album of all time. Proving the powerhouse he is as a live act.
Such great news to hear that Peter Frampton at 73 years old feels rejuvenated and able to keep playing. No one deserves it more.