# What Happened to Peter Frampton? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434 "2017-01-28T22:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/1 "2017-01-28T22:17:01Z")
Peter Frampton seemed so big in the 1970s, especially with his highly successful “Frampton Live” album. But, then nothing… So, what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/2 "2017-01-28T22:21:21Z")
He lost his hair and the young girls stopped liking him. I think he still makes music, though. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/3 "2017-01-28T22:25:00Z")
His material has been consistently good through the years, despite what “radio” thinks. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/4 "2017-01-28T22:38:23Z")
He had a stint as guitarist for his old schoolmate David Bowie in the late 80s. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/5 "2017-01-28T22:39:02Z")
He still goes on tour. He seems to hit my town of Tucson once a year. He’s also put out five albums since 2000. It seems only his classic songs are played on the radio. That’s probably why he’s been less prominent since the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/6 "2017-01-28T22:45:24Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > He lost his hair and the young girls stopped liking him. His teeth, too; rattled loose by the vibrations from that talk box. But the “young girls” snark is telling. He should have cultivated the FM-rock audience after his spectacular breakthrough with _Frampton Comes Alive_, but instead he got marketed as a pretty boy teen idol with _I’m In You_, the shirtless Rolling Stone cover, and his leading role in the abominable _Sgt Pepper_ movie. All of that did him no favors, career-wise. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/7 "2017-01-28T22:45:52Z")
He’s right here: [http://www.frampton.com](http://www.frampton.com) I don’t understand your question. You mean why isn’t he still a superstar, and instead just a star? He’s got his share of stories about the monstrous success of FCA and flying a bit too close to the sun of fame, but he’s a great player and musician and has kept making music. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/8 "2017-01-28T22:56:46Z")
His 2006 album Fingerprints won a Grammy for best instrumental Pop Album. He’s been touring pretty steadily for many years–he’s a great guitarist and his shows are always fun. Several years ago he paused the show for a [live conversation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p1afRC-iHQ) with astronaut Ron Garen on the International Space Station. One word of warning if you plan to go to his show–be careful with your digital camera. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/9 "2017-01-28T23:14:37Z")
Well, he’s a senior rocker, that is he was famous, for being famous (in addition to his skill, and his continued touring in smaller venues) What I mean to say is, they asked him to be part of The Simpsons Episode - Hullabaluza. [The Simpsons -"Hullabalooza" - Pete Frampton Pink Floyds Yardsale - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raWRt4pCirE) Or to be on an episode of Family Guy - [Death and Peter Frampton - Family Guy season 3 ep 6 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfQTWIq9f8E) So he didn’t really disappear into complete obscurity once he became a little older. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/10 "2017-01-28T23:30:07Z")
Well, he was big in the 70’S, duh, he’s a senior citizen, but as stated he is making music and touring and doing pretty well. I saw him about 5 years ago at the casino, show was sold out, and he did all his old hits and just thrilled all of us baby boomers! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/11 "2017-01-28T23:31:09Z")
He plays here in Vegas a few times a year, so I know he’s still active. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/12 "2017-01-29T02:42:37Z")
He got badly hurt in a car wreck. His career declined during his long recovery. Also his Talk Box was a novelty gimmick that fans tired of quickly. > **[35 Years Ago: Peter Frampton Almost Killed in Car Wreck](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-frampton-car-wreck/)** ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/13 "2017-01-29T05:11:43Z")
I’ve never seen a performer have so much gosh darn _fun_ while on stage as much as Peter Frampton. He’s always clowning around. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/14 "2017-01-29T05:35:02Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > One word of warning if you plan to go to his show–be careful with your digital camera. That’s more than one word 😃 But seriously, why? Does he have security smash them? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/15 "2017-01-29T08:48:52Z")
I thought his career had a brief resurgence a couple years back when (dusting off the voicebox again) went on the Colbert Show and played the theme song. ::ah yes - blasting now some _Fiesta Comes Alive_…whole grain goodness…:: ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/16 "2017-01-29T12:14:21Z")
Obligatory link to the story about his 3-pickup Les Paul guitar from the cover of FCA. It was given to him by a fan, became his favorite and featured, and then was believed destroyed in a plane crash for decades. > **[Frampton's Dream Guitar, Recovered Decades Later](https://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144799712/framptons-dream-guitar-recovered-decades-later)** > > The custom Les Paul that Peter Frampton wielded in his heyday — the one on the cover of Frampton Comes Alive! -- was lost in 1980 when the plane carrying it went down in South America. But last month, the rocker was reunited with the instrument he... ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/17 "2017-01-29T14:37:42Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > But seriously, why? Does he have security smash them? No, not security. With Peter you get the [personal touch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgp9qBkYy0). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/18 "2017-01-29T15:04:11Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Obligatory link to the story about his 3-pickup Les Paul guitar from the cover of FCA. It was given to him by a fan, became his favorite and featured, and then was believed destroyed in a plane crash for decades. > > [Frampton's Dream Guitar, Recovered Decades Later : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144799712/framptons-dream-guitar-recovered-decades-later) I just forwarded that to my guitarist friend. He replied: "Wow. I love the photo. Great to see a pro musician so happy over such a beat-up instrument. Les Paul’s are heavy! Even when I was younger I found them really uncomfortable after 2 or 3 minutes…" ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/19 "2017-01-29T15:18:38Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I just forwarded that to my guitarist friend. He replied: > > "Wow. I love the photo. Great to see a pro musician so happy over > such a beat-up instrument. > > Les Paul’s are heavy! Even when I was younger I found them really > uncomfortable after 2 or 3 minutes…" Les Pauls from the 70’s were notoriously tanks - over 10 pounds was common. This was in part due to Norlin’s acquisition of Gibson, design changes to the Les Paul for the body, and the woods they were using at the time as the really old Honduran mahogany got used up. Also, that was a period where the trend was that “heavier is better = more sustain” - look at Jerry Garcia’s 13.5 pound Tiger. Those were the bad old days IMHO! But the original 50’s LP’s were a lot more likely to be in the 8-9 pound range. And Frampton’s is a '54 I think - it isn’t a “real” 3-pickup LP Custom which were introduced around '58. The fan who gave it to him routed it for 3 humbuckers. I bet it weighs 8 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434/20 "2017-01-29T16:00:46Z")
Thanks, WordMan…I’ll pass that on to my friend. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-peter-frampton/778434.md?page=2)