Peter Frampton Talks Navigating Life With Rare Muscle Disease: ‘I’m a Very Positive Person’

For many musicians, losing the ability to play would be a nightmare — but Peter Frampton is proving that a devastating diagnosis can’t crush his spirit.

The singer, 76, has been speaking about living with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), a rare and progressive muscle disease. It slowly weakens the body and threatens the very hands that helped make him a superstar. There is no cure for IBM.

But Frampton, known for songs like “Show Me the Way” and “I’m In You,” is confronting the challenge with physical therapy and remarkable courage.

“My outlook on it is, ‘That’s life.’ I’ve been so lucky. I’ve had an up-and-down career, but in the long run, I look at everything,” the rock legend said in an interview with Page Six. “Look at the last 60 years. Wow, I’m the luckiest guy alive!”

The disease has forced major changes into his daily routine. Frampton now relies on a cane and grabber tools around the house, and he has even had to adapt to the way he plays guitar.

Still, the Grammy-winning performer remains determined to do what he loves. “I’m a very positive person. I know the endgame, but it doesn’t bother me,” he added. “It is a challenge, and I’m always up for a challenge.”

The health battle has also transformed his perspective. Rather than focusing on what he has lost, Frampton says he has chosen to focus on compassion and understanding.

“It just made me realize that kindness is the most important thing, because when you meet someone that you know or don’t know, you have no idea what’s going on in their life or in their body or whatever,” he added. “So I just decided that I’m going to concentrate on kindness.”

The legendary performer isn’t slowing down any time soon. Despite his condition, Frampton completed a tour last year and released his 19th solo album, Carry The Light, on May 15. It features collaborations with Sheryl Crow, H.E.R., Tom Morello and Graham Nash.

A new documentary about his career called Frampton had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday, June 4.