Recorded just after Frampton Comes Alive! had broken the record for album sales in 1976, this interview captures Frampton at the pinnacle of his career. However, due to his seemingly sudden rise to superstardom (his first taste actually came in 1968), many people knew very little about him. As such, this interview focuses on Frampton's past, from the day he first played a banjolele at age 6 through his teenage jams with David Bowie through the first time he met a Beatle.
Listen from the beginning to hear how Frampton dealt with his unprecedented success or check the time stamps below to hear about a specific band from his youth.
00:00 - Reaction to Frampton Comes Alive! breaking the record
Early Musical Experiences / Influences
02:25 - Growing up in Beckenham
02:54 - Playing a banjolele (age 6)
03:44 - Watching Eddie Cochran play a guitar (age 8)
04:11 - Getting his first guitar
04:58 - Biggest influence: Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin of The Shadows
05:38 - First record player: The Shadows, Django Reinhardt
07:43 - Other ambitions besides music?
08:22 - Bringing his guitar to school
08:56 - The Little Ravens (age 12)
09:06 - The variety show at Bromley Technical School
11:35 - The headliners: George and the Dragons
12:20 - David Bowie as a 15 year-old musician
13:05 - The Trubeats
13:36 - First song he ever wrote (age 8)
14:44 - The Preachers, Tony Chapman (original Rolling Stones drummer)
15:49 - A jazz phase
16:38 - Getting help from Bill Wyman, recording at IBC Studios (age 14)
18:06 - The Herd, ultimatum from his father
18:39 - His father as manager
19:23 - Recording demos for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
20:19 - I Can Fly, cheaper recording tricks
20:47 - From The Underworld
21:30 - Scandal / saving money
22:49 - I Don't Want Our Loving To Die
23:17 - The first taste of stardom
25:00 - First experience meeting a Beatle (George Harrison)
26:57 - Meeting Ringo Starr and Stephen Stills
27:30 - Meeting Eric Clapton