Frampton comes alive at Grammys for first time

LOS ANGELES, Feb 12 (Reuters) British rock guitarist Peter Frampton, whose 1976 album ''Frampton Comes Alive!'' was one of the biggest-selling releases of all time, won the first Grammy of his career for an album of instrumentals featuring an all-star cast of musicians.

Frampton, 56, took home the pop instrumental album Grammy for ''Fingerprints,'' on which he played Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, guitarist Hank Marvin, and two members of Seattle rock band Pearl Jam.

The other nominees were Gerald Albright, Larry Carlton, Fourplay, and Spyro Gyra.

Frampton was also nominated in the rock instrumental performance statuette for ''Black Hole Sun,'' originally recorded by Seattle rock band Soundgarden, but lost to the Flaming Lips for ''The Wizard Turns On ...'' Accepting his statuette, Frampton said he was wearing a tie for the first time since he was in high school, in honour of his late father, to whom he dedicated his album.

Frampton founded British blues rock band Humble Pie in 1969 at 19 with former Small Faces singer-guitarist Steve Marriott.

He went solo in 1971, and enjoyed mammoth success with the double set ''Frampton Comes Alive!,'' which is billed as the biggest live album in history, with sales of 16 million copies.

REUTERS DKS BST0630