It was a magic moment, one that opened the pathway towards a career that has seen him become one of the most compelling and successful live performers, first with the Herd, then with Humble Pie and ultimately as a solo artist. His successes include the 1976 award-winning album Frampton Comes Alive, which topped the charts across the world and sold well over 11 million copies.

Like so many young kids in Britain in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Peter was drawn to the energy and excitement of rock and roll. As well as Buddy Holly, he was a fan of Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury and Adam Faith. He particularly loved the Shadows – their music, of course, but also that their lead guitarist, Hank Marvin, wore Buddy Holly-style horn-rimmed glasses. Peter even bought himself a pair from his local Woolworths store. He knocked out the lenses, bent them to fit and proudly wore them on stage while playing with his first-ever band, the Trubeats.

The Trubeats started performing gigs at local venues just as Beatlemania was exploding right across the UK. New bands were appearing everywhere and Peter was particularly attracted to a local group called the Konrads, which featured a mesmerising sax player and vocalist called Davy Jones. Soon Peter and Davy became close friends, sharing a love of music and jamming ‘Maybe Baby’, ‘Peggy Sue’ and other Buddy Holly songs on the steps of Bromley Technical High School, where Davy was a pupil in Peter’s father’s art class. There began a lasting, creative friendship. Long after the charismatic Davy Jones had changed his name to David Bowie, he invited Peter to play guitar on his 17th studio album, Never Let Me Down, and to travel the world with him on the Glass Spider tour in 1987, a pivotal moment in Peter’s career.

Peter is still performing Buddy’s songs. In August 2022 I was proud to introduce him on stage at the magnificent Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences in Lubbock, where he played a deeply moving set at a sell-out all-star concert, celebrating the work of one of the greatest songwriters ever. It was the perfect full circle.

Bob Harris