Underrated may not be the perfect word because of his early work in Humble Pie, but as good as he is Frampton has never been thought of as a guitar player first. His main legacy is as a singer/songwriter who plays the guitar.
In a way, when he broke huge with the live album in 1976 he was a bit like the John Mayer of his time. I remember friends at the time sneering at him, a pretty boy playing soft rock who all the girls loved but he wasn't a REAL rocker. One friend in my crowd was at the show at Winterland where the album was recorded, and he would always catch grief from those who thought The Who, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Montrose, etc. were REAL rock 'n roll.
To some degree I suppose an argument can be made that they were right, but after all this time it's just kind of funny, another example of how we're always looking to pigeon-hole, to minimize what we don't like, always searching for things to feel superior to.
Anyway, I agree that Frampton is a much better guitar player than he's generally given credit for.
Here's another guitar player who for various circumstances is rarely mentioned in "greatest" conversations, but who IMO stands with any player who's ever plugged in - Terry Kath.
THAT guy could friggin' shred, but he too was overshadowed by playing in a "pop" band, and right when he was about to start a solo career that would have put him front & center he fucked it all up.
Was at the concert at Arizona State University when they filmed the stage scenes for "A Star Is Born" with Barbra and Kris.
They had the stadium filled at about 6 AM (requirement was to be there EARLY!) and then did a big ass festival topped off with Frampton doing the entire "Frampton Comes Alive" album. To fill it, tickets were like $3 or $4. Big event back then.
This website has a pic and says: More than 45,000 music fans turned out at Sun Devil Stadium to see the stars film concert scenes and attend a show featuring Santana, Montrose and Peter Frampton. It was the largest concert held in the state at the time. https://www.sceen-it.com/sceen/5817/A-Star-Is-Born/Sun-Devil-Stadium
I remember Coach Frank Kush from the ASU football team didn't like it, said something to the effect that if it had rained, all them hippies would've left a dirt ring around the stadium.
What a great artist and album. Love the Humble Pie "Rockin' The Fillmore" album, too. On the quieter side, "All I Wanna Be Is By Your Side" is a sweet tune. And easy enough for me to play it.
And Lance, yes on Terry Kath. He was great, too. Under recognized by some.
I thought Peter was going to give up touring and /or playing for health reasons? Inclusion body myositis, a rare and incurable inflammatory condition which causes muscles to weaken slowly. Not sure what the deal is. Maybe those experimental drugs are working!
> a pretty boy playing soft rock who all the girls loved
I caught his show in New Haven in the spring of 1977 because a young lady I was quite taken with wanted to go. Coming as it did on the heels of Frampton Comes Alive, and that album's ultra-heavy rotation on FM radio, I don't recall being very surprised by the show. It was alright.
Seen him in Clearwater about a month ago. Outdoors, hot, humid and he came out and rocked. Walked out with a cane, sat down and they strapped him up with a Les Paul and he was off to the races. Played a few long jamming tunes and after one, he said well there goes half my audience. Even in the chair, and the brutally hot end of day start time the guy was on top of it all night. Go to the Show !
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Good friend just saw her 10th
Good friend just saw her 10th Frampton show since the 70s last week said it was the best she's seen him perform
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
I don't think anyone
I don't think anyone considers Frampton "underrated." Dude is a guitar legend going back to his Humble Pie days.
Had tickets to see him on Thursday at the Edgefield but missed it because I had to go to Florida this week because of a family emergency.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD
"Family emergency" Gonna pick
"Family emergency" Gonna pick up some shrooms? JK.
Hope whatever it is works out OK.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
Underrated may not be the
Underrated may not be the perfect word because of his early work in Humble Pie, but as good as he is Frampton has never been thought of as a guitar player first. His main legacy is as a singer/songwriter who plays the guitar.
In a way, when he broke huge with the live album in 1976 he was a bit like the John Mayer of his time. I remember friends at the time sneering at him, a pretty boy playing soft rock who all the girls loved but he wasn't a REAL rocker. One friend in my crowd was at the show at Winterland where the album was recorded, and he would always catch grief from those who thought The Who, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Montrose, etc. were REAL rock 'n roll.
To some degree I suppose an argument can be made that they were right, but after all this time it's just kind of funny, another example of how we're always looking to pigeon-hole, to minimize what we don't like, always searching for things to feel superior to.
Anyway, I agree that Frampton is a much better guitar player than he's generally given credit for.
Here's another guitar player who for various circumstances is rarely mentioned in "greatest" conversations, but who IMO stands with any player who's ever plugged in - Terry Kath.
THAT guy could friggin' shred, but he too was overshadowed by playing in a "pop" band, and right when he was about to start a solo career that would have put him front & center he fucked it all up.
Incredibly sad, and an incredible loss.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
Was at the concert at Arizona
Was at the concert at Arizona State University when they filmed the stage scenes for "A Star Is Born" with Barbra and Kris.
They had the stadium filled at about 6 AM (requirement was to be there EARLY!) and then did a big ass festival topped off with Frampton doing the entire "Frampton Comes Alive" album. To fill it, tickets were like $3 or $4. Big event back then.
This website has a pic and says: More than 45,000 music fans turned out at Sun Devil Stadium to see the stars film concert scenes and attend a show featuring Santana, Montrose and Peter Frampton. It was the largest concert held in the state at the time. https://www.sceen-it.com/sceen/5817/A-Star-Is-Born/Sun-Devil-Stadium
I remember Coach Frank Kush from the ASU football team didn't like it, said something to the effect that if it had rained, all them hippies would've left a dirt ring around the stadium.
What a great artist and album. Love the Humble Pie "Rockin' The Fillmore" album, too. On the quieter side, "All I Wanna Be Is By Your Side" is a sweet tune. And easy enough for me to play it.
And Lance, yes on Terry Kath. He was great, too. Under recognized by some.
I thought Peter was going to give up touring and /or playing for health reasons? Inclusion body myositis, a rare and incurable inflammatory condition which causes muscles to weaken slowly. Not sure what the deal is. Maybe those experimental drugs are working!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Yes he found he still could
Yes he found he still could play but sits now
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Semolina Pilchard
> a pretty boy playing soft
> a pretty boy playing soft rock who all the girls loved
I caught his show in New Haven in the spring of 1977 because a young lady I was quite taken with wanted to go. Coming as it did on the heels of Frampton Comes Alive, and that album's ultra-heavy rotation on FM radio, I don't recall being very surprised by the show. It was alright.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
>>>because a young lady I was
>>>because a young lady I was quite taken with wanted to go... I don't recall being very surprised by the show. It was alright<<<
That's what guys have been saying about Mayer & Dave Matthews shows for years Mike.
Every era has one or two.
Just sayin'.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
And don't get me wrong, I
And don't get me wrong, I like Frampton, about as much (or a liiiiiitle more) as I like Dave Matthews or John Mayer shows.
They're alright.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Seen him in Clearwater about
Seen him in Clearwater about a month ago. Outdoors, hot, humid and he came out and rocked. Walked out with a cane, sat down and they strapped him up with a Les Paul and he was off to the races. Played a few long jamming tunes and after one, he said well there goes half my audience. Even in the chair, and the brutally hot end of day start time the guy was on top of it all night. Go to the Show !
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
I'm a Roadrunner from Dear
I'm a Roadrunner from Dear Jerry 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgBgEvEqIg4
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Some recent-ish video of him
Some recent-ish video of him with the MULE out there. Poke around.