Peter Frampoton has issued an apology for an incident during a July 23 concert at the Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, MN.
According to the Star Tribune, the guitarist halted his opening slot performance ahead of the Steve Miller Band in what appeared to be a response to a camera operator putting a fan holding old Frampton album covers on the video screens, which caused the crowd to erupt during a quiet part of the show.
The distracted Frampton reportedly leaned his face into the camera and let out a two-word expletive before he and his band left the stage.
A concertgoer claims he saw the rocker get into a “camera tug-of-war” with the cameraman on stage just as the unscheduled break began.
Casino spokesman Kevin Smith confirmed that the screens were turned off “at the artist’s request” for the remainder of the show, which saw Frampton return to the stage and play the two songs remaining on his set list before adding a third tune to complete his performance.
Frampton “apparently didn’t like what was on the video board for one reason or another,” added Smith. “That was obvious.”
On Tuesday, the guitarist posted a lengthy explanation about the incident on social media, outlining the detailed and carefully-planned performance he and his band aim to deliver each night.
“When something happens to change the script, like a distraction out of my control, then it messes with the build of the show,” writes Frampton. “This happened in Welch, MN the other night. ‘I’ll Give You Money,’ is a song that we break down to almost nothing volume wise and it grabs the audience’s attention and pulls them in to hear what we are doing—its one of the most intimate parts of the set for my band and the audience together. At this very climactic moment, the director of the in-house video displayed the audience on the screens, which distracted from the connection that we had worked to achieve. The moment was lost.
“From the stage, we aren’t able to see what’s being displayed on the screen so we had no idea they were showing a long-time fan holding up my album cover. I feel very bad for her and totally understand the perception from out front at this point in the show. The screens are there for you to see our playing and what we’re doing close-up on stage from wherever you are in the crowd. I love that this is possible at todays’ shows.”
“After the first interruption,” he continued, “I asked the director through my backstage team to please keep the cameras on the band during this important part of the song, but the monitors changed again. After the show, the director admitted this was a ‘very bad call.’
“I was frustrated because I felt we had completely lost control of this special moment in the show. I overreacted and tried to take the camera from the cameraman and left the stage to talk to the director. I reacted passionately because I care very much about giving you the best show we can possibly give every night.”
Frampton explained what happned next, adding, “I could not take the chance of the screens affecting the show again so I had them turned off. This was not the right thing to do and I apologize to everyone there. The most disappointing thing to me and the band is that it was such a great evening with such an incredible audience - we were all having a great time.
“Once again, I sincerely apologize for my overreaction and look forward to seeing you all out on the road some time again soon.”
Frampton’s summer North American tour with the Steve Miller Band wraps up in Murphys, CA on August 13.
See also:
Steve Miller Band announces summer tour with Peter Frampton
VIDEO: Peter Frampton unplugs for Show Me The Way
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Peter Frampton announce summer tour
Peter Frampton previews Acoustic Classics album
Search Peter Frampton at hennemusic
