1970’s rock legend Peter Frampton has been diagnosed with a degenerative muscle disease that he believes will soon stop him from being able to play guitar. He revealed that the disease is called Inclusion Both Myositis (IBM) and it’s a condition which causes muscles to stop functioning. Frampton believes the disease will spread to his fingers, so he has announced a farewell tour.

The musician discussed his diagnosis on CBS This Morning and stated in regards to the farewell tour, “I’m a perfectionist, and I don’t want to go out there and feel like ‘Oh I can’t, this isn’t good.’ That would be a nightmare for me.”

He also discussed his love of playing guitar and live performance, “I’ve been playing guitar for 60 years, it’s my passion. I started when I was eight and now I’m 68. So I’ve had a very good run.” The farewell tour takes place entirely in North America, except for one appearance at the blues rock festival Keeping The Blues Alive in Barcelona on August 16th.

Frampton is primarily known for his 1976 double live album, ‘Frampton Comes Alive!‘, which is one of the greatest selling live albums of all time. The album stayed at number one in the US for 10 weeks, sold 11 million copies and was the country’s best-selling album of that year. Frampton has also worked with a variety of other talented music artists, such as David Bowie and members of the grunge rock band Pearl Jam.

Frampton and Bowie attended the same school, Bromley Technical, in Kent. Bowie, who was three years older than Frampton, was taught art by Peter’s father Owen Frampton. Frampton appeared on Bowie’s 1987 album ‘Never Let Me Down‘ as well as the accompanying Glass Spider tour. 2006’s ‘Fingerprints’ featured the musical talent of Pearl Jam with drummer Matt Cameron and guitarist Mike McCready featuring on the album.

Frampton’s most famous songs include ‘Breaking All the Rules’, ‘Show Me the Way’, ‘Baby, I Love Your Way’, ‘Do You Feel Like We Do’, and ‘I’m in You’. He was previously part of the bands Humble Pie and The Herd before finding international success as a solo artist. He is remembered as a talented guitarist and songwriter as well as being a pioneer of the talk box, an instrument that merged vocals and guitars to make it sound as if the guitar is itself singing. He has appeared as himself on television in shows such as The Simpsons and Family Guy.

His American farewell tour is due to start this June.