NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
When legendary guitarist Peter Frampton announced that he had inclusion body myositis (IBM) and that he would embark on his farewell tour in 2019, it was a tour that everyone wanted to attend, not only because it was the culmination of a glorious career with a hiccup caused by starring in the ill-fated “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” with the Bee Gees (who faced a similar fate), but also in tribute to one of the nicest and funniest men in music. I covered the show at Madison Square Garden that September and I consider it one of my top shows of 2019. Back then, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to play in a year’s time but he said to himself “never say never!”. Fast forward to 2023 and Frampton announced his “Never Say Never Tour”!! His fans could not be happier and for two nights, he played at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY.
Understanding that there’s no way that Peter Frampton would tour unless he was able to give his best to the fans, I was still concerned with how much the myositis may have affected him. It turned out that the disease has taken a toll on him as he took the stage with a cane to help him walk and he played seated the whole show. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, man oh man, can the guy still play! It’s so good watching Frampton doing something that he so obviously loves because he also can’t stop smiling!
Throughout the show, Frampton showed what a great storyteller and joker he is. He talked about playing “new songs” and how that’s when the wife would tell the husband “you get the t-shirts and I’ll get the beers”. On cue, a couple gets up and starts walking up the aisle and he says “there they go” to everyone’s amusement. The two don’t even notice! On “Can’t Take That Away”, he asks for audience participation and jokes about the pronunciation of “can’t”, which he says he pronounces differently sometimes because he’s now an American citizen!
A few highlights of the show were (in no particular order):
1. “Black Hole Sun” using the talkbox!!
2. The dueling guitars on “(I’ll Give You) Money”
3. The story of his custom Gibson Les Paul, which he thought was lost in a plane crash in Venezuela, only to turn up thirty two years later! The story was an intro to “Do You Feel Like We do”
All in all, if I may say, this was probably the best show I’ve ever seen Frampton play!! I’m sure all his fans were glad they were able to see this master guitar player again because, realistically, he can only do it so long given his condition. He joked that he’s hoping he can do a “Never Say Never Part II” tour next year and, as long as he’s willing and able, we’ll be there!
NOTE: If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear Frampton’s memoir “Do You Feel Like We Do: A Memoir by Peter Frampton” on Audible, you really should, even if you’ve read the book. Unlike many authors who have a tendency to read their memoirs, making for a really boring listen, Frampton sounds like he’s engaging you in a conversation in his living room. Probably the best narration I’ve heard yet!
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