I-95 Exclusive: Peter Frampton Has Fond Memories of New Haven (2025)

Peter Frampton is a legendary Grammy-winning guitarist who’s been rocking for decades. He started young, playing in the British band The Herd and co-founding Humble Pie at just 18. Over the years, he’s worked with some of the biggest names in music, from George Harrison to David Bowie to B.B. King.

Frampton’s still killing it, with his 2021 album Frampton Forgets The Words getting rave reviews, his 1976 live album Frampton Comes Alive! still one of the best-sellers ever, and even making a cameo in Almost Famous.

Frampton is headed our way, bringing his "Let's Do It Again" tour to Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, March 30th. We got a chance to chat with Peter before he rolled into town, and while we were discussing the subject of getting rock star autographs when this New Haven memory jarred loose.

Dave: I still have your (autograph) from Toad's Place in 1992 in New Haven, it's still on my wall.

Peter:"Oh, Toad's Place! I remember that. That was such a great, exciting venue, wasn't it?"

Dave: It really is, it still is.

Peter:"Oh, wonderful! Yeah, I remember we played there before it burned down. Then it burned, they rebuilt it, and we played there again. I think we helped re-open it or something."

Here was another one of our favorite moments from our chat with Peter Frampton.

Lou:You mentioned earlier that after Frampton Comes Alive came out, it became so popular that you got scared. I think I understand what you're saying when you say that. It's a lot of expectation, a lot to live up to. It's very rarified air—there are probably only a few people who have lived on this Earth that can relate to you: Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, who you mentioned earlier, maybe Taylor Swift today. Have you ever had a chance to sit down and talk to any of those people, or anyone of that ilk, and discuss the pressure that kind of popularity brings?

Peter:"Yes. I've known, since way before I played on All Things Must Pass with George (Harrison), and I made friends with him in 1970, as well as a lot of the players on there, one of them being Ringo (Starr). Ringo and I have known each other since 1970. We sat down—he came to see me at The Forum in '76—and we sat down backstage, and I said, 'What happens next? You know, what's gonna happen?' He said, 'Well, Pete, you know every career is different, but we spoke about it. I don't know, he said, last year you were at The Troubadour and now, five minutes later, you're at The Forum. He said, what went on? What's going on here?' I said, 'I don't know, the album took off.' But it was nice to be able to talk with him, and you know, he's always been there as a great friend—a lifelong friend."

You can listen to our complete interview with Peter Frampton below.

Part 1 - Peter talked about how the Sgt. Pepper's movie ruined his career.

Part 2 - Peter talked about the pressure he endured after Frampton Comes Alive hit so big.

Part 3 - Peter talked about going to the same school with David Bowie growing up.

Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify