Nazareth’s ex frontman Dan McCafferty dies aged 76

Dan McCafferty has died aged 76, his former Nazareth bandmate Pete Agnew has confirmed. 

The Scottish singer had been the front man of the hard rock band from its start in 1968 until 2013, when he retired from touring due to ill health. 

Agnew had shared the news of McCafferty’s death on the band’s official Facebook page, telling fans: ‘Dan died at 12:40 today.

‘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 was born in Dunfermline, Scotland and became one of the founding members of Nazareth, touring with the band for 45 years and appearing on all of their albums until 2014. 

Inspired by the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, McCafferty co-wrote some of Nazareth’s biggest hits including Bad Bad Boy and Broken Down Angel, as well as releasing three solo albums.  

The band had announced McCafferty’s retirement from touring in August 2013, due to health issues.

He had previously told music magazine Classic Rock that his health issues were down to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which had ‘worsened in recent years’.

McCafferty had had to leave the stage after just three songs during a show in Switzerland in August 2013, explaining: ‘You don’t know when it’s going to come on, but suddenly you can’t breathe.’

He added at the time: ‘If you can’t do the job you shouldn’t be there — Nazareth’s too big for that.’

The vocalist was replaced by Linton Osborne and Carl Sentance who took over as frontmen of the band after McCafferty retired from touring.

McCafferty is survived by his wife Maryann and two children.  

Reference: Metro: Kim Novak: