Peter Frampton announced the initial dates of his final tour on Friday (February 22nd), and the the next morning revealed on CBS This Morning that he’s suffering from a degenerative muscle disease called Inclusion-Body Myositus, that slowly weakens the body’s muscles. Frampton was diagnosed over three years ago, after a series of falls that were out of character for him. Frampton, who has 33 new tracks in the can, will release a double album later this spring and a single set down the line, kicks the trek off on June 18th in Tulsa, Oklahoma with dates on the books through October 12th in Concord, California.
Frampton spoke to Rolling Stone and explained the mad rush to lay down new music and hit the road: “The need is now because right now I can play great guitar and we are recording like maniacs at my studio in Nashville. We’ve done two albums already. I want to record as much as I can in the shortest space of time. We’re actually working on three projects. I’m very much feeling that I’m playing like always. Some people are saying even better, but I’d let them say that. In a year’s time, I might not be able to play. Right now, it’s progressing but I’m still at the top of my game.”
When pressed about how he’ll feel at the tour’s final show — which has still not been announced, he said, “I’ve thought about that, but I know that all my kids will be there. My ex-wives will be there. (Laughs) I hope not. No, they probably will. It’s going to be a party and a celebration of what’s going to come. We’re going to celebrate. We’re not going to look backwards. We’re going to go forward. I know I’ve got so much more to do. It will be an emotional evening, obviously. I have such a great support group. My kids. My ex-wives (laughs). I’m very lucky.”
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening will open most of the shows on the tour with Frampton’s son Julian Frampton on board as special guest for eight gigs.
ANNOUNCED: Peter Frampton / Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening tour dates (subject to change):
June 18 – Tulsa, OK – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa (Peter Frampton only)
June 20 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall (Peter Frampton only)
June 22 – Montgomery, AL – Wind Creek Casino & Hotel (Peter Frampton only)
June 23 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre (Peter Frampton only)
June 26 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre (Peter Frampton only)
June 27 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
June 29 – Salamanca, NY – Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino
June 30 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
July 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (Peter Frampton only)
July 3 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
July 5 – Montreal, QC – Montreal Jazz Fest Place des Arts: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Peter Frampton only)
July 7 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
July 9 – Boston, MA – Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
July 10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia
July 12 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
July 13 – Stayner, ON – Roxodus Music Festival (Peter Frampton only)
July 23 – Traverse City, MI – Interlochen Center for the Arts – Kresge Auditorium (Peter Frampton only)
July 25 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 26 – Morgantown, WV – MountainFest Motorcycle Rally
July 28 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
July 29 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre (Peter Frampton only)
July 31 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Peter Frampton only)
August 2 – Minneapolis, MN – Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater
August 4 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
August 5 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
August 8 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
August 11 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre at Encore Park
August 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 – “Keeping the Blues Alive” at Sea Mediterranean (Peter Frampton only)
August 30 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
September 1 – Albany, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
September 2 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
September 4 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
September 6 – Miami, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre
September 7 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
September 10 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
September 11 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
September 13 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
September 14 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
September 21 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
September 22 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
September 24 – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Resort & Casino
September 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
September 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Red Rock Resort Spa & Casino (Peter Frampton only)
September 29 – Temecula, CA – Pechanga Casino-Pechanga Summit (with Julian Frampton)
October 2 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU (with Julian Frampton)
October 3 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre (with Julian Frampton)
October 5 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum (with Julian Frampton)
October 6 – Tuolumne, CA – Black Oak Casino Resort-Westside Pavilion (with Julian Frampton)
October 9 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (with Julian Frampton)
October 10 – Portland, OR – Ilani Resort & Casino Cowlitz Ballroom (with Julian Frampton)
October 12 – San Francisco, CA – Concord Pavilion (with Julian Frampton)
