Back in 2015, Peter Frampton was diagnosed with a condition called Inclusion Body Myositis, an inflammatory muscle disease that was slowly but progressively beginning to hamper his ability to play guitar. By 2019, Peter announced one final tour while he still could. Unfortunately, the last leg of the tour was postponed because of COVID. However, last month Peter wrapped up the tour’s final dates, giving his last concert in Düsseldorf, Germany.
After a 50-plus year career, what song would Peter end with? Something from his short time with Humble Pie? A tune from one of his early studio albums? Maybe Penny for Your Thoughts, a song that at the time was rumored to be about a Wisconsin girl he met in Madison and was dating? Or, obviously something from his gazillion selling live album that made him an enormous star. (I am convinced to this day that if you walked into any home in the United States in 1976 you had at least a 75% chance of finding a copy of Frampton Comes Alive. And a 50% chance it was playing at the time.)
Would it be Show Me the Way, Baby, I Love Your Way, or the show-stopping Do You Feel Like I Do?
No, Peter chose to go out with an emotional 10-minute cover of the Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps, written by his longtime friend George Harrison.
To be clear, Peter is not completely retiring. He will still be making the occasional appearance here and there but this was his final concert and he concluded with a song that gave me all the feels.
