Nazareth, the Scottish band that conquered the world, will rock the Golden R. Festival 2025 and all the fans, who will attend the fest in Volos, Greece! Nazareth is one of the most important and influential hard rock bands in history. For more than five decades, they have given us amazing songs, unforgettable live shows and a unique sound that inspired many other bands. This tribute looks at the story of Nazareth!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
Nazareth started in 1968 in Dunfermline, Scotland. The original members were Dan McCafferty (vocals), Pete Agnew (bass), Manny Charlton (guitar) and Darrell Sweet (drums). Before they were Nazareth, they played in local bands, including The Shadettes. In 1970, they changed their name to Nazareth, inspired by the first line of The Band’s song “The Weight” (“I pulled into Nazareth…”). The band wanted to make big, powerful rock music with strong guitar riffs and soulful vocals. They started touring and working hard to build a name in the UK rock scene.
Nazareth released their self-titled debut album in 1971. It showed their rock style but did not make them famous yet. The second album, “Exercises” (1972), was more experimental, with acoustic elements. Their big break came in 1973 with the album “Razamanaz”, produced by Deep Purple’s Roger Glover. This record included hits like “Razamanaz”, “Broken Down Angel” and “Bad Bad Boy”, very energetic and catchy songs, perfect for live shows. Nazareth started to get attention all over Europe.
The mid-1970s were the golden years for Nazareth. They released a series of classic albums – “Loud ‘n’ Proud” (1973), “Rampant” (1974) and “Hair of the Dog” (1975). “Hair of the Dog”, my favorite album, was a huge success and became their most famous work. It included their signature song, “Hair of the Dog” (often called “Son of a Bitch” because of its infamous lyric). Another track from this album, “Love Hurts”, became a worldwide hit. Originally by The Everly Brothers, Nazareth’s version turned into a rock ballad that climbed the charts in the U.S., Canada and many other countries. By the late 1970s, Nazareth was playing in big arenas and touring internationally. They were a major force in hard rock, alongside bands like Deep Purple and Uriah Heep. The 1980s brought changes in music trends, but Nazareth continued releasing albums and performing live. Some key albums from this decade were “Malice in Wonderland” (1980), “The Fool Circle” (1981) and “2XS” (1982). The single “Dream On” from “2XS” became popular, especially in Europe. Even if they were not at the top of the charts anymore, Nazareth had a loyal fanbase and kept touring.
Nazareth faced difficult times in the 1990s and 2000s. Drummer Darrell Sweet died suddenly in 1999. His death was a huge shock to the band and fans. Other members left or retired, but bassist Pete Agnew continued leading the group. Vocalist Dan McCafferty had health problems and had to stop touring in 2013, after more than 40 years as Nazareth’s voice. Finally, McCafferty passed away in November 2022.
Even after these losses, Nazareth did not stop. They brought in new musicians and released new albums. Some recent works include “Rock ‘n’ Roll Telephone” (2014), “Tattooed on My Brain” (2018) and “Surviving the Law” (2022).
In 2015, Nazareth was inducted into the Scottish Music Hall of Fame, a great honor for their contribution to music.
Nazareth’s sound is a mix of hard rock, blues and heavy riffs, with emotional vocals. Their music influenced many famous bands, including Guns N’ Roses (who covered “Hair of the Dog”) and Metallica. They were pioneers in making rock music heavier, but also showed how to create beautiful ballads.
Apart from the aforementioned classic albums, Nazareth had released two other, essential for every rock/hard rock fan albums: “Expect No Mercy” (1977) and “No Mean City” (1979).
Without a doubt, Dan McCafferty’s unique voice was the soul of Nazareth. Songs like “Love Hurts”, “This Flight Tonight” and “Hair of the Dog” would not be the same without his raw, powerful vocals. Fans all over the world still celebrate his life and music.
If you love rock/hard rock music, you owe a lot to Nazareth. They were among the bands that built the foundation of hard rock. Their music will always be with us — in our speakers, our memories, our hearts. Nazareth will always rock the world. So, this chance we all now have, to experience a Nazareth live show (with Carl Sentence as the lead vocalist and only surviving member from the 70s line-up being bassist Pete Agnew), should not be missed!
