Peter Frampton - vocals, guitar; Richard Cottle - keyboards; Tony Levin - bass guitar; Ben Gramm- drums
Peter Frampton had worked in music for about 10 years when he struck platinum. But after releasing the smash success that was 1976's best-selling album, Frampton Comes Alive!, Peter Frampton's life went into a free-fall. He took on the role of Billy Shears in the abysmal Beatles tribute-film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (the rest of the band was played by The Bee Gees); he nearly died in a car accident, which, in turn, led to a drug addiction; he and his girlfriend split; and his subsequent releases—despite one of them, I'm In You containing performances by Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, and Ringo Starr—didn't come close to repeating the once-in-a-lifetime success of his live compilation.
Yet 10 years after that milestone, in 1986, Frampton experienced a brief comeback on the strength of the single "Lying," which was part of the Premonition LP. "Lying" cracked the Hot 100, and hit number four on the Mainstream Rock chart. This will seem a briefer set for those used to listening to his double-live material. It is comprised mostly of Premonition songs, which many fans felt was more introspective and heart-felt than other recent efforts. The only tracks that don't appear on that record, "Lines" and "Do You Feel Like I Do," are from the pre-Frampton Comes Alive! album Frampton's Camel. However, "Do You Feel Like I Do" is better known as the live number in which Frampton talks dirty through his guitar talk-box. The song, which usually clocked in at just under 15 minutes, became an unlikely single, and Frampton consistently used it to end live shows.
Peter Frampton remains a ubiquitous pop-culture reference. He has played himself on The Simpsons and Family Guy, and recently became a spokesperson for Geico. His name or likeness has made countless other appearances in films and TV programs. As a musician, Frampton has toured more recently with the British rock supergroups Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and Ringo Starr's All-Star Band. His 2006 all-instrumental release Fingerprints was nominated for a Grammy, and he continues to record.