Dan McCafferty, co-founding singer of classic rockers Nazareth, has passed away, aged 76. Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew confirmed his passing in a statement.
“Dan died at 12:40 today,” he wrote.
“This is the saddest announcement I ever had to make. 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. Too upset to say anything more at this time.”
McCafferty unfortunately had to retire from the band in 2013 after fronting it for nearly 50 years due to numerous health issues including C.O.P.D. At the time, the singer said: “If you can’t do the job, you shouldn’t be there. Nazareth’s too big for that.”
McCafferty fronted Nazareth’s most well-known studio efforts and songs, including the classic 1975 album, “Hair Of The Dog,” which features the title track and the band’s legendary cover of The Everly Brothers, “Love Hurts.” He also co-wrote some of the band’s biggest hits including “Broken Down Angel”, and “Bad Bad Boy”.
Ricky Warwick, frontman of Black Star Riders and Thin Lizzy, was among those who paid tribute to McCafferty. He wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Nazareth’s Dan McCafferty today. I was honoured to be in his company on the Rock Meets Classic Tour in 2016. My thoughts and condolences to his family and close friends.”
In 1993, Guns N’ Roses recorded a cover of “Hair of the Dog” on their album “The Spaghetti Incident?”, after the group turned down Axl Rose’s invitation for them to perform at his wedding.
McCafferty’s last solo studio effort was 2019’s “Last Testament.”
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