Black Hole Sun

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin Peter Frampton's instrumental cover of "Black Hole Sun" from his 2006 Grammy-winning album Fingerprints. This track, originally by Soundgarden, was transformed by Frampton into a bluesy, guitar-driven masterpiece. In a 2019 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Frampton shared that when he first heard Soundgarden’s version, he was so blown away he pulled over his car to crank up the volume, calling it one of the best songs he’d ever heard, rivaling even The Beatles. He described the “ecstasy” of getting lost in the song’s vibe during live performances, a sentiment echoed by Stern, who admitted the song’s profound emotional pull left him puzzled yet captivated. Frampton’s version, featuring Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron, uses a talk box and an EBow to create its haunting, voice-like guitar tones, adding a unique texture that honors Chris Cornell’s original while making it distinctly Frampton’s own.

The recording process for this cover was intense. Frampton recalled in a 2023 review that McCready challenged him to a “guitar battle” starting at the 2:55 mark of the track, pushing Frampton to explore new sonic territories. The result was a blistering duel of dissonant riffs, with both guitarists emerging as victors. Frampton also performed the song live with Cornell before the Soundgarden frontman’s passing, a memory he shared during his 2019 Finale Farewell Tour at Madison Square Garden. At a 2017 Philadelphia show at The Mann Center, Frampton dedicated the song to Cornell and his family, blending talk box vocals with an epic guitar solo that left the crowd in awe. The track’s emotional depth, even without lyrics, resonates so strongly that it’s been praised for capturing the “melting pot of interpretations” Cornell’s original evoked, as noted in a 2019 Artist Waves tribute.

Peter Frampton’s journey to rock stardom began in Beckenham, Kent, where he was born on April 22, 1950. His passion for music sparked early, influenced by guitar legend Hank Marvin of The Shadows, whom he later collaborated with on Fingerprints. As a teenager, Frampton taught himself to play guitar, mimicking Marvin’s iconic riffs. By his late teens, he was already a rising star, joining the psychedelic band The Herd, which made him a teen idol in Britain, as detailed in his bio on AllMusic. At 18, he co-founded Humble Pie with Steve Marriott, touring the U.S. and Europe and honing his hard rock chops. Frustrated with the band’s direction, he left in 1971 to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut album Wind of Change in 1972. His 1976 live album Frampton Comes Alive! became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 17 million copies worldwide and cementing his status as an arena rock icon.

Frampton’s official website, frampton.com, is the go-to hub for tour dates, news, and exclusive content like his response to being inducted into the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. You can catch up with him on social media via his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares updates on his “Let’s Do It Again!” 2025 tour and personal reflections, like his collaboration with Dolly Parton on her Rockstar album. Fans can dive deeper into his world through communities like the Peter Frampton Fans Facebook Group, where Zoo Freaks can connect over their love for his music, share concert photos, and discuss classics like “Black Hole Sun.” Another great spot is My Les Paul Forum, where guitar enthusiasts geek out over Frampton’s gear and tone, especially his signature Les Paul Custom.