Ear of Newt

Nazareth frontman Dan McCafferty's razamanazing days are done

by Steve Newton on August 29th, 2013 at 4:56 PM
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      If you were a teenaged guitar-rock freak growing up in Chilliwack in the '70s, you liked Nazareth.

      You surely purchased either vinyl or 8-track versions of both the band's albums that came out in the Year of Our Rockin' Lord, 1973, Razamanaz (in May) and Loud 'n' Proud (in November).

      And you no doubt thought they had dipped in quality with 1974's Rampant before returning to form somewhat with 1975's Hair of the Dog.

      Maybe you stopped buying their albums around that time, although you thought the regionally inspired "Vancouver Shakedown" on 1976's Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll was pretty cool.

      Like a lot of bands from the seventies, Nazareth were hardened road warriors. They toured incessantly from their home base in Scotland. I remember coming in from the 'Wack to see them headline the PNE Forum back around '74 or so, with prog-rockers Strawbs opening up.

      In the '80s and '90s their arena status wore off and they were booked at smaller venues like the Commodore. More recently they were regulars on the casino circuit, playing in the 'burbs at places like Coquitlam's Red Robinson Show Theatre.

      But no more. If you haven't seen them do that gravelly voiced rendition of "Razamanaz" yet, you're outta luck.

      According to a story posted on the Classic Rock website today, founding vocalist Dan McCafferty has called it quits due to health issues, which culminated in him collapsing on stage in Switzerland on the weekend. And last month he collapsed during a gig in Cranbrook.

      Unlike some people we could mention, he knows when to pack it in.

      So, in honour of the 66-year-old McCafferty having hung in there this long, here's five of my fave Nazareth tunes.

      Play 'em loud and proud for me, will ya?

       

       

       

       

      You can follow Steve Newton for all his wacky rock 'n' roll reminiscing on Twitter at twitter.com/earofnewt.

      Comments

      6 Comments

      Rob Donison

      Aug 29, 2013 at 7:33pm

      Dan McCafferty, one of the greatest vocalists in recorded history, in the tradition of shouting, raspy-voiced rock pioneer Little Richard, rocked on stage for 50 years - 45 internationally with Nazareth. I couldn't believe how good he still sounded in recent years. He struggled to get through sets in the last couple years, and it must have broke his heart to not make it to 50 years with the band to which he was so crucial. But he knew that he couldn't go on live performing without consistency and threw the towel in. I wonder if he will continue to be part of the recording sessions that will make up the band's new album and if he will continue to record on his own. Like his idols, Little Richard and Otis Redding, he was an amazing talent as a singer, as well as a songwriter. Dream On, for example, still blows me away, whether listening to the original recording or a recent stage performance. The recent recording of When Jesus Comes To Save The World Again touched a spiritual nerve with me though and I prayed for Dan - not knowing where he was at spiritually. I hope and pray that he will find Jesus, if he hasn't accepted him already, and that he might use that timeless voice to record song rocking gospel - the way Little Richard has in recent decades... God bless Dan McCafferty!!

      Tim Weaver

      Aug 30, 2013 at 4:03pm

      Loud n Proud 8 track version, and right in the middle of "This Flight Tonight", it fades out and then changes tracks and then fades back into the song, Classic!!! Never saw them in the 70's, but did get to see them at the Commodore in '83, that's the night I ruined my hearing, standing to left of the stage by the speakers, my ears hurt for about a week after, always one of the hardest working bands, and for some reason they seemed to be more popular in Canada than the States?

      pod

      Aug 31, 2013 at 4:11pm

      Dan McCafferty is without a doubt one of the best male vocalists around,I was sad to hear about his health problems.Fortunately I have had the pleasure of seeing Nazareth live several times in recent years,his version of Love Hurts is amazing....the best one in my opinion.

      Tom Spangler

      Nov 30, 2013 at 10:39am

      I,ve listened to Nazareth since the 1970s and still do to this day.God Bless Dan Mccaferty I wish him well

      anonymous

      Jun 30, 2014 at 10:17pm

      I missed seeing them in Sudbury in 74, but saw them in Hamilton about 2003, then again in Calgary in 2012. Personally I can't imagine Nazareth having a new singer but I guess the show goes on. I once saw the Hermits Hermits trying to pull off a show without their known lead singer, didn't work out too well.