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I’m In You: Peter Frampton Still Feels Like We Do

The following interview with Peter Frampton expands on a conversation that first appeared in the magazine. Here Frampton comments on his biggest concert ever, desert island fantasies and how his dad turned David Bowie’s eye a different color.

What were the All Things Must Pass sessions like?

That was pretty much a major event for me. I had met George a little bit before. It was all around the time I was leaving Humble Pie, so ‘71ish. Through a mutual friend I met George when he was producing Doris Troy for an album; his first production for the Apple label, basically. They each produced an act. So he stuck me on guitar the first time I met hin the studio and then called back up and said would I like to come play on some of these acoustic… cause he needed… with Phil Spector there you needed as many acoustics as you… he was the first sort of like double tracking person. If there was a piano player, you needed two piano players. It was one of those things. It was basically Jim Gordon on drums with Ringo; just looking around the room it was pretty spectacular, you know? George on acoustic; Bad Finger- the whole band, on acoustic as well. And it was either Gary Ride or um, who else was it? The Commander from Procol Harum- my buddy, Gary. Gary Brooker.

So that’s also how I sort of met Pete Drake, the pedal steel player from Nashville Skyline. That’s how I knew of him, from Bob Dylan’s record. He was obviously one of the top pedal steel players in Nashville. He got out a homemade talk-box in a slow moment and plugged it in. I didn’t know what it was at the time obviously. He plugged this pedal steel into this little wooden box, put a plastic pipe in his mouth and the thing started singing to me, talking to me. Me thinks this a good idea me thinks [laughter]. So from then on, I started looking for a talk box and found one that was already handmade so I didn’t have to make it. And that was it. So a lot came out of that period.

After the tracks were all done, George called me up. I used to say that he only got me in the studio cause I lived ‘round the corner. [laughter]. So he called me up and said, “I’m just doing some over dubbing, you know, some more acoustics… Phil wants more acoustics.” So I go ‘round to Abbey Road studio and it’s just him and me, for a couple hours in the afternoon, just overdubbing on stalls in the studio where they recorded Sgt. Pepper. Over dubbing on tracks I didn’t even play on. People say, “How many tracks you play on” and I say “I don’t really know. If there’s acoustic on it, I’m probably on it.” That was it. And when they would change reels for different songs, George and I would start jamming. That has to be one of the highlights of my life, you know? Sittin’ there jamming with a Beatle. And a couple of Beatle songs as well to boot. It wasn’t just all rock and roll. Anyway, that’s basically what the sessions were like.

Did you really win Miss Penny Lane for a case of beer?

No. I think all that funny business went on after I left Humble Pie. It is rumored that those sort of things did go on, isn’t it? [laughter]. I don’t think that actual event happened, but it’s quite feasible that something along those lines did.

In your role as authenticity advisor to Almost Famous what was the most glaring error you helped to correct? Did you know Cameron Crowe during the 70s?

By the way, you sound like Cameron Crowe when you talk. I don’t think there were glaring errors at all. I think everyone was so aware of… my main thing, as well as the obvious, was to help the actors and give them as much information as possible as to what they would be doing or why they would be doing it. That’s more of what an actor needs. Why am I doing this move or would this be good here? Can I turn up the amp? All that sort of stuff. That was my job. As far as things that weren’t quite right, it was mainly the time things we were all worried about because I’ve seen so many movies, not even musicals, that are not time-sensitive whatsoever. It’s supposed to be a specific date and you see a car that didn’t come out till the next year, that sort of stuff. And that obviously goes to amplifiers, guitars as well as cars and clothes. Even drum kits. The type of skins they used. Things you probably wouldn’t have even noticed, but we just weren’t going to take a chance. We just wanted it to feel like ’73. So it wasn’t errors, it was more just everyone checking with everyone else, “Have we got it right?” At some point, we came into one of the live things, the live setups in L.A. or was it San Diego? One of the first ones, I think it might have been San Diego, and Cameron thought that the lighting wasn’t quite what it would have been like, they hadn’t done it all. And I said, no, I agree with you. I don’t think this particular lighting setup is… What they had to do was light the stage with lights that were from the period and if they needed anymore, for cinematic purposes, those lights had to be out of shot. There was all that had to go into as well. I’m a pretty detailed oriented person, so I got into it. Put it that way. [laughter]. Very Type-A. Perfect for the job.

So after that, have you been requested to work on any other films?

Um, the scripts are just pouring in Josh, let me tell you! [more laughter]. I still can’t make up for Sgt.Pepper you see? Even though I’m in Almost Famous, they won’t let me forget Sgt. Pepper so…

Speaking of the Sgt Pepper Movie- what’s the story- were all of you on drugs or what?

[lots of laughter] No, well, yes, that, as well, as well we were all on drugs. I just think it was a god awful movie! [laughter]. There are actual people out there that when I meet them at shows or after a show, I offend them. It’s sort of like the_ Rocky Horror Picture Show_ not really. [laughter]. “I saw Sgt.Pepper 23 times” and I say I just feel sorry for you. But that’s ok! [laughter]. I’m saying this with a joking heart here, it’s just one of those things that was maybe a bad move. Aerosmith have come through it, so I really feel strongly that things are looking up for me. [laughter]

Are you familiar with Phish’s album Hampton Comes Alive? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

Yes I am. Phish seem to be on a sabbatical because the lead guitarist is out doing his own thing right?

Right. Actually, they all have little side projects that they are doing.

Do you think they’ll get back in the groove together as it were?

They will. I don’t think it will be this year, but from all indications it seems like only a matter of time. They’ll come back together when they feel the time is right, with a renewed energy. They just needed to take a break.

Especially when you do nine hour shows. You spend enough time with each other getting to the gig. On stage, we just do an hour and half, two hours. These guys are in the Bruce Springsteen league. I was honored at the dig on Frampton Comes Alive. Especially by them since they have such a wide audience. The Dead of the day as it were. They seem to be real good musicians. I have not seen them live yet, but it’s something that’s on the cards.