There’s a smile detected in rock star Peter Frampton’s voice when he says: “I finally learned how to say no at age 40.”
Frampton, 73, speaking by telephone from his home in Nashville, explained he’s been doing “a lot of revisiting stories and memories lately,” as he embarks on his “Never EVER Say Never Tour,” which marks 60 years of national and international concert tours for the rock icon.
At 8 p.m. March 18, Frampton will perform at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary in concert, and he’s ready to not only bring all of his hits that cemented his found fame of the 1970s, but also some favorite stories to share from the stage.
“I like to get to know my audiences, because for a time, I didn’t have audiences, and my career seemed lost,” Frampton said.
“It’s all so much better now. If I’d only had my management that I have now, back during those years in the 1970s, I’d be the richest man in the world.”
Born and raised in England, Frampton’s chart-topping success came after he left as a member of various bands and established himself with his solo artist best-selling 1976 live recorded album “Frampton Comes Alive!” which included his biggest hits like “Baby, I Love Your Way,” “Show Me the Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do.”
“Frampton Comes Alive!” ranks one of the top-selling live records of all time having sold more than 17 million copies worldwide.
Peter Frampton remains forever linked to a performance technique using a tiny contraption called a “talk box,” which allows him to create an altered sound musical effect blending his own vocal tones with the sounds of his guitar.
“I think it’s that concert sound effect that might have something to do with why I was selected to appear as myself on an episode of ‘The Simpsons,’ a few years back,” Frampton said.
“When I was asked to be on ‘The Simpsons,’ my career wasn’t exactly flushed, but it was in the toilet. And to be honest, I think the producers had really hoped to get another rock name first before they finally just settled on me.”
The episode of “The Simpsons” Frampton refers to aired May 19, 1996, during the seventh season and was titled “Homerpalooza.” The story plot lampoons a music festival that comes to the Simpsons’ hometown Springfield and Frampton performs onstage including a moment with his “talk box” effect, as well as joined by other cartoon likeness cameos of the Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth and Cypress Hill, appearing and providing vocals as themselves.
Frampton was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2020, the same year his autobiography “Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir” was released and made The New York Times Bestsellers list. The following year, he released his 2021 album “Frampton Forgets The Words.”
“There’s still so much more I want to do, but life, aging and personal troubles can get in the way,” Frampton said.
During the past two years, Frampton has spoken publicly about his personal health battles, including his fight against myositis, a neurologic disorder. “My condition is slow developing,” Frampton said.
“I’ve lost feeling in my fingers, but they still know what to do.”
He also received The Myositis Association’s Heroes in the Fight 2023 Patient Ambassador Award in September 2023, the same month he performed on stage at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony alongside Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks.
Peter Frampton in Concert
When: 8 p.m. March 18
Where: Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th Ave., Gary
Cost: $79.50
Information: 219-228-2383; hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com/entertainment
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.