DAN McCafferty, original lead vocalist and founding member of Sottish hard rock band Nazareth died on Tuesday at the age of 76. News of his death was broken and confirmed by Pete Agnew, the bassist for Nazareth.
“Dan died at 12:40 today,” Agnew wrote in a heartfelt message on Nazareth's Facebook page. “This is the saddest announcement I ever had to make.”
The cause of death was not stated but Agnew paid his respects to Dan's family.
“Maryann and the family have lost a wonderful loving husband and father, I have lost my best friend and the world has lost one of the greatest singers who ever lived,” Pete added. “Too upset to say anything more at this time.”
Nazareth released its debut album in 1970 but only made waves in the UK with its third album produced in 1973. That album spawned two British top 10 singles, ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Broken Down Angel’.
The group, however, only rose to international stardom with the release of ‘Hair of the Dog’ in 1975, becoming a household name among rock fans. Their cover track of the Everly Brothers' classic ‘Love Hurts’ rose to the No 7 spot on Billboard Hot 100 and continues to get airplay today.
McCafferty stopped performing on tours after five decades with Nazareth, who are best known for chart-topping hits such as Hair of the Dog and Love Hurts, due to health difficulties in 2013.
He took a backseat from the stage due to health difficulties in 2013. In a 2014 interview, McCafferty discussed his life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic inflammatory lung condition that obstructs airflow from the lungs.
"I can't sing on tour like I used to anymore," he explained. "I figure if you can't do the job then you really shouldn't be there. I'm sad about it but I just can't sing a whole set live anymore.
“I could always make another record. But getting up to do an hour and three-quarters and get people to pay money to come and see me – I can’t do that.”
He offered his blessings to the band to carry on without him.
“The music we’ve made over the years is more important than any member of the band. We always felt like that, and I can’t see that’s changed just because I’ve left,” he remarked.
In 2019, he released his third and final solo album, Last Testament. – The Vibes, November 10, 2022
