Peter Frampton Continues To Rock On Despite Crippling Muscle Disease

Despite Peter Frampton‘s battle with a crippling disease, Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) — an autoimmune condition characterized by persistent muscle inflammation, progressive weakness, and degeneration — the singer has refused to slow down as he continues to wow his fans with his stage presence and fight on.

The musician will turn 74 later this month and has also made the ballot as a candidate for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ahead of his birthday celebration, Frampton reflected on his career and how his condition has impacted it.

Peter Frampton has maintained his style of play despite crippling disease

In an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune, Frampton revealed that IBM has significantly affected his ability to fully control his fingers, a skill he once had mastered. “I think it’s the same. I’ve never really changed my M.O. But what I have to do now is I create new ways (to play) because I’m a fighter and I’m not giving up. I have weakness in my fingers, yes, but I have created different paths to get to the end point of what I want to play,” Frampton told the news outlet. “And I am inspired by all the musicians I’ve read about that don’t have full use of their left hand on the guitar, or any instrument, and how they have altered their way of playing and fingering and stuff like that.”

He added that since his diagnosis in 2015, he has dedicated himself to exploring various methods to regain his former performance level. “Yes. I savor every note now. For the things I think of that I can’t play, I quickly work out what I can do at that point, and it’s different and I like it. So, there’s an upside and I’m always looking for an upside. I think: “Wow, I wouldn’t have played it that way (before).” And if the end result I want is not there, it’s very sad,” the guitar maestro admitted. “But right now, I’m basically having the time of my life. I can’t believe the audiences and I can’t believe where I am at in my career at this point. I never thought I’d be back playing at this level. So, every day is a great day for me.”

Though he took a break from music in December 2019 after his Finale: The Farewell Tour due to his health, Frampton returned to the stage in late 2022 and claimed his deep-seated passion for playing the guitar keeps him going. “Then, I stopped. But with my love of playing guitar, I had to give into myself and say: “I don’t care if I’m not at the top of my game — my band can’t notice the difference, so maybe it’s OK,” he explained. “Because I was adjusting, I thought: “I’ll go back on my promise to myself that I wouldn’t go out and play when people said: “He’s not as good as he used to be.”

“Well, I’m getting people saying I’m playing better than I used to, which I don’t understand,” he confessed. “It was a re-assessment of what’s important to me: to not play and be able to get that (previous) level of enjoyment, or to play and be slightly different. I made that decision, and I said: “I don’t think we can plan a year ahead.” But when my agent came to me with another concert date offer, I said “Yes,” and that was 2 1/2 years ago.”