SPOILER-FREE SUMMARY
50 years ago, rock guitarist Peter Frampton “owned 1976.” His album Frampton Comes Alive! became the best selling album of all-time and is still, in 2026, one of the best selling live albums in the history of recorded music. He was respected by musicians for his craft but marketed unceremoniously as a teen idol, causing a level of unnecessary frustration for somebody who just wanted to be a great guitarist. In his career, he’d been a classmate of David Bowie’s, played in bands The Herd and Humble Pie before going solo and embarking on an unexpected stratospheric rise to stardom. It was short lived, however, and Frampton found himself off the road, with a crooked manager, and in financial trouble. It wasn’t until his old friend David Bowie called in the 80’s that things turned around. Despite being diagnosed with inclusion body myositis that will, inevitably, keep him from doing the thing he loves best, FRAMPTON illustrates how the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer chooses to appreciate the storied life he’s lived as opposed to the rough hand he’s been dealt.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
What started as a bandmate’s desire to dabble in video editing and story telling turned into an insightful documentary about one of the most revered people in rock.
FRAMPTON features a wealth of behind-the-scenes moments, casual talking head commentary and archival footage but it’s director Rob Arthur’s relationship with Frampton that benefits the audience 11-fold. Arthur has been Frampton’s bandleader for the past two decades so there’s a level of candidness exclusive to those two that allows the rare look at a completely comfortable celebrity.
Musical peers Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Roger Daltrey of The Who and Alice Cooper (among others) lend their perspective on Frampton, his stardom and his struggles. Few can relate to the subject’s career but Arthur manages to sit down with those who can and bring them to the audience. Furthermore, the use of the John Cusack moment in HIGH FIDELITY, the long hold on his “I love you Frampa” mug and including how Frampton taught Billy Crudup how to play guitar for ALMOST FAMOUS in just a matter of weeks are all incredible touches by Arthur that aren’t necessary but enhance the final product.
While a legend in the industry, it’s been 40 years (Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour) since Frampton was top of mind for the average pop culturist. This doc allows his story — somebody we should all know and appreciate — to be shared. Personally, I remember falling in love with Big Mountain’s cover of “Baby I Love Your Way” in high school. That’s when I first learned who Peter Frampton was. A few years later, I discovered live music (Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Neil Young and eventually Jason Mraz, Robert Randolph, etc.) and I kept hearing about Frampton Comes Alive! from the people I’d meet at concerts. So, while I’ve known Frampton’s name for the better part of 30 years, this film gave me the opportunity to learn why I’ve known his name those 30 years.
FRAMPTON will be a powerhouse once it hits streaming. Music lovers everywhere should seek this one out, invite their bandmates over and nerd out while watching one of the most underrated stories in the history of music.
JKG SCORE: 7.0 out of 10
