[Heeplist] Dan McCafferty Retires

[Mac Steagall]

 From Classic Rock Magazine:
Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty has retired from 
the band as a result of the health issues which 
forced them to cancel two sets of live dates.

The veteran vocalist 
<http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/nazareth-dan-mccafferty-collapses-again/>collapsed 
on stage in Switzerland at the weekend, resulting 
in rumours that he’d had a stroke. 
<http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/nazareth-dan-mccafferty-collapses-on-stage/>Last 
month he collapsed in Canada. Both incidents 
caused the band to call off further appearances.

Now he’s shouted down the stroke story – but 
admits a lung disease has brought an end to his 45-year live career.

McCafferty tells Classic Rock: “I’ve not had a 
stroke. That’s completely untrue – thank goodness 
and touch wood. I’m not in hospital in 
Switzerland at all. I don’t know how these things get started.

“I’ve got Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
and it’s been getting worse over the years. You 
don’t know when it’s going to come on, but suddenly you can’t breathe.

“I was going on stage at Summerfest in 
Switzerland thinking, ‘This is great – our first 
festival in a few months and it’s a lovely day.’ 
We couldn’t have asked for better.”

Three songs in he suffered an attack of COPD, 
leaving him out of breath and unable to continue. 
He decided at that moment to retire with immediate effect.

“When I came off stage I said to the boys: ‘I 
can’t keep doing this to the band.’ I can’t 
embarrass the boys and the fans. If you can’t do 
the job you shouldn’t be there – Nazareth’s too big for that.”

McCafferty’s decision came after he’d taken a 
break following his collapse in Canada, which was 
caused by a burst stomach ulcer. “I thought I’d 
be fine,” he says, “But you lose so much blood when that happens.”

He admits he and his bandmates are “a wee bit 
emotional” and haven’t come to terms with the 
news, but he says: “The music we’ve made over the 
years is more important than any member of the 
band. We always felt like that, and I can’t see 
that’s changed just because I’ve left.

“I really hope they get someone else. I’m sure they can.”

Naz recently completed recording work on their 
24th album, not yet titled. “To go into a studio 
and sing isn’t like doing a gig,” says 
McCafferty. “I could always make another record, 
but getting up to do an hour and three-quarters, 
and get people to pay money to come and see me – I can’t do that.”

He’s going to take time out to consider his 
future, but says a solo album might be a 
possibility. As to the chances of a farewell 
show, he jokes: “It could be like, ‘I’ll sing for 
ten minutes, everyone go for a pint, than I’ll 
sing for another ten minutes.’ I don’t know how well that would work!”

McCafferty adds: “Let everyone know I appreciate 
they’ve been there for all these years.”

Naz formed in Fife, Scotland in 1968, with 
McCafferty and bassist Pete Agnew the only 
members to feature in all lineups until now. 
Other members included Manny Charlton, John 
Locke, Zal Cleminson and TeamRock Radio Blues 
Magazine Show host Billy Rankin. The last lineup 
to feature McCafferty had been stable since 2002, 
with guitarist Jimmy Murrison and Agnew’s son Lee on drums.