Dan McCafferty, ex-lead singer of Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, has died at the age of 76.
A tour spokesman confirmed the death to the German Press Agency on Wednesday. The band’s tour is said to be continuing. In the next few weeks, Nazareth will also be giving concerts in Germany, and a performance in Flensburg is planned for Friday.
Family and fellow musicians deeply affected
“This is the saddest announcement I’ve ever had to make,” wrote the group’s bassist Pete Agnew in a post on the band’s Facebook page Tuesday night. “His wife, Maryann, and his family have lost a wonderful and loving husband and father. I have lost my best friend – and the world one of the greatest singers that ever lived.” The singer died on Tuesday.
McCafferty, who was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, spent 45 years on stage with his grating voice for Nazareth. The band, which he and Agnew founded, celebrated many successes, especially in the 1970s – the big, wild time of British hard rock bands like Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple.
“Love Hurts”, “Dream On” und “This Flight Tonight”
Among Nazareth’s best-known hits were the cover version of “Love Hurts” and the self-penned ballad “Dream On”. The cover version of “This Flight Tonight” reached number 1 in the German charts. One of the band’s most successful albums was “Hair of the Dog”.
In 2013 McCafferty announced his departure for health reasons – he was suffering from a chronic lung disease – but remained connected to the band. Nazareth continued. After a longer Corona break, the band is now touring through Europe.
