Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 14th October!
Dan McCafferty (Nazareth)
On the 14th October 1946, Scotsman William Daniel „Dan“ McCafferty was born in Dunfermline. In 1968 he founded with guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew and drummer Darrell Sweet the Hard Rock band Nazareth. The moniker was taken from a city in Pennsylvania, which is mentioned in the first line of The Band’s classic song „The Weight„. In 1970 the band moved to London and one year later the self titled debut album was released. In 1972 the LP „Exercises“ hit the shops and Nazareth did the support for Deep Purple. Shortly after this touring Purple’s bass player Roger Glover produced one year later „Razamanaz„, which features the two UK top ten hits „Broken Down Angel“ and „Bad Bad Boy“. And before the ending of 1973 the next Nazarth album was released: „Loud ‚N‘ Proud“ with the Joni Mitchell’s song „This Flight Tonight“ – this cover became also a hit single for the Scottish Hard Rock band. With „Hair of the Dog“ (1975) the fanbase became bigger and bigger, because of the rockin‘ title track and the cover of the evergreen „Love Hurts“ – the ballad went platinum in the United States and is still Nazareth’s superhit until today.
In 1979 Zal Cleminson (formerly The Sensational Alex Harvey Band) joined Nazareth as a second guitarist and recorded with the band the two albums „No Mean City“ and „Malice in Wonderland“ (1980). Different line-ups happened over the years and in 1999 drummer Darrell Sweet died at the age of 51. Lee Agnew, son of bass player Pete Agnew, replaced Sweet.
On 28th August 2013, Nazareth announced the retirement of singer Dan McCafferty due to ill health. So the latest record „Rock ’n‘ Roll Telephone“ (2014) features Dan’s voice for the last time on a Nazareth release. In February 2014 the new singer was presented: Linton Osborne was chosen with McCafferty’s blessing.
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