Seventies-era guitar hero Peter Frampton [ tickets ] is soon due to release his first new studio album in nine years, and is lining up an ambitious tour schedule to back the set.

Though no specific release date has been announced, Frampton's new album is expected to surface some time in late summer or early fall, according to his website. The collection will include the track "Hour of Need," which recently turned up on the soundtrack to the film "The Banger Sisters."

Prior to kicking off his summer tour in mid July, Frampton has a handful of concerts planned, including an appearance at this Saturday's (4/5) 3 Rivers Music Festival in Columbia, S.C.

In January, Frampton performed at the Lexus Auto Show in Los Angeles, and a streaming version of the show is available online. Details are posted at Frampton's website.

Frampton is best known for his 1976 live set, "Frampton Comes Alive!" The album--which featured the singles "Baby I Love Your Way" and "Show Me the Way"--rocketed to the top of the album chart, and is the top-selling live rock album ever.

In a 2001 interview with liveDaily, Frampton spoke about the sudden rise to stardom.

"It was scary, and the best thing that could have happened to me," he said. "It was well and good when the album was number one. It was a dream, and a dream come true."