Peter Frampton
b. 22 April 1950, Beckenham, Kent, England. The former ‘Face of 1968’, with his pin-up good looks as part of the '60s’ pop group the Herd, Frampton grew his hair longer and joined Humble Pie. His solo career debuted with WIND OF CHANGE (1900) in 1971, although he immediately set about forming another band, Frampton's Camel, to carry out US concert dates. This formidable unit consisted of Mike Kellie (drums), Mickey Gallagher (keyboards) and Rick Wills (bass), all seasoned players from Spooky Tooth, Cochise and Bell And Arc respectively. FRAMPTON in 1975 was a great success in the USA, while in the UK he was commercially ignored. The following year a double set, FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE scaled the US chart and stayed on top for a total 10 weeks, in four visits during a record breaking two-year stay. The record became the biggest-selling live album in history and to date has sold over 12 million copies. Quite why the record was so successful has perplexed many rock critics. Like Jeff Beck, Frampton perfected the voice tube effect and used this gimmick on Show Me The Way. The follow-up I'M IN YOU (1900), sold in vast quantities, although compared to the former it was a flop, selling a modest ‘several million’. Again Frampton found little critical acclaim, but his records were selling in vast quantities. He continued to reach younger audiences with aplomb. In 1978 he suffered a near fatal car crash, although his fans were able to see him, in the previously filmed Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Frampton played Billy Shears alongside the Bee Gees in the Robert Stigwood extravaganza that was a commercial and critical disaster. When he returned in 1979 with WHERE I SHOULD BE (1900), his star was dwindling. The album garnered favourable reviews, but it was to be his last successful record. Even the short-haired image for BREAKING ALL THE RULES (1900) failed, with only America, his loyal base, nudging it into the Top 50. Following THE ART OF CONTROL (1900) Frampton ‘disappeared’ until 1986, when he was signed to Virgin Records and released the synthesizer-laced PREMONITION (1900). He returned to session work thereafter. Later on in the decade Frampton was to be found playing guitar with his former school-friend David Bowie on his NEVER LET ME DOWN. In 1991 he was allegedly making plans to reform Humble Pie with Steve Marriott, but a week after their meeting in New York, Marriott was tragically burnt to death in his home.