Nazareth: Scotland’s Hard Rock Trailblazers

Nazareth. Formation and Early Years

Nazareth was formed in 1968 in Dunfermline, Scotland, by musicians from a local semi-pro band called The Shadettes.

Nazareth. Original lineup:

• Dan McCafferty – Vocals
• Manny Charlton – Guitar
• Pete Agnew – Bass
• Darrell Sweet – Drums

The band took its name from the opening line of The Band’s “The Weight” (“I pulled into Nazareth…”) and quickly developed a sound rooted in blues rock, hard rock, and proto-metal.

Nazareth. Breakthrough and Classic Period (1971–1979)

✦ Nazareth (1971) & Exercises (1972)

Early albums showed promise but were more folk-rock and blues-oriented.

✦ Razamanaz (1973) – Produced by Roger Glover of Deep Purple

This was their true breakout.

Key tracks:

• “Razamanaz” – Riff-heavy hard rock
• “Broken Down Angel” – UK Top 10 hit
• “Bad Bad Boy” – Further radio success

✦ Loud ’n’ Proud (1973)

Featured the hit:

• “This Flight Tonight” – A Joni Mitchell cover turned into a hard rock classic

✦ Rampant (1974)

More experimental, less commercially successful, but included:

• “Shanghai’d in Shanghai”
• “Glad When You’re Gone”

✦ Hair of the Dog (1975)

Their signature album, and one of hard rock’s most iconic records.

Highlights:

• “Hair of the Dog” – A snarling anthem with the famous line: “Now you’re messing with a son of a bitch!”
• “Love Hurts” – A heartfelt Everly Brothers cover that became their biggest hit, especially in the U.S., peaking at #8 on the Billboard chart
• “Beggars Day / Rose in the Heather”

This album sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. and established Nazareth as a global hard rock force.

Nazareth. Continued Output and International Popularity (1976–1983)

Nazareth maintained momentum with several strong albums:

• Close Enough for Rock ’n’ Roll (1976) – “Telegram”
• Expect No Mercy (1977) – Heavier direction
• No Mean City (1979) – Included the hit “Star”
• Malice in Wonderland (1980) – Produced by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, with a more polished sound

They remained especially popular in Europe, Canada, and South America, even as U.S. success waned slightly.

Nazareth. Lineup Changes and Later Years (1984–2000s)

• Manny Charlton left in 1990, replaced by a series of guitarists including Billy Rankin and Jimmy Murrison
• Darrell Sweet died in 1999 during a U.S. tour; replaced by Lee Agnew (Pete Agnew’s son)

Albums from this era:

• Snakes ’n’ Ladders (1989)
• No Jive (1991)
• Move Me (1994)
• Boogaloo (1998) – Well-received return to form

Though they lost chart prominence, Nazareth continued to tour heavily and record into the 2000s.

Final Years of Dan McCafferty and Modern Era

Dan McCafferty, known for his raspy, powerful vocals, retired from touring in 2013 due to health issues but remained active in the studio for a time.

He passed away in November 2022, leaving behind a legendary voice often compared to Bon Scott and Brian Johnson.

Nazareth continued with Carl Sentance (ex-Persian Risk) on vocals.

Recent albums:

• Rock ’n’ Roll Telephone (2014) – The last to feature McCafferty
• Tattooed on My Brain (2018) – First with Sentance
• Surviving the Law (2022) – A strong modern-day Nazareth record

Legacy and Influence

Nazareth are celebrated for:

• Being Scotland’s first internationally successful hard rock band
• Bridging blues rock and heavy metal with a unique voice and sound
• A career of over five decades, with a consistent global fanbase

Influenced artists include:

• Guns N’ Roses (Axl Rose often praised McCafferty)
• Metallica (James Hetfield cited Hair of the Dog)
• Queens of the Stone Age
• Soundgarden

Their sound is rooted in raw riffage, boogie energy, and emotional power ballads, often blending toughness and tenderness.

Interesting Facts

• “Love Hurts” is more famous than any Everly Brothers version — many fans believe it’s a Nazareth original
• They were one of the first hard rock bands to cover folk and pop songs and turn them into arena rock hits
• Nazareth played to huge audiences behind the Iron Curtain, becoming cult heroes in Eastern Europe
• Hair of the Dog was initially titled “Son of a Bitch”, but the label refused it