[Heeplist] Dan McCafferty Retires

[Thaddeus Komorowski]

Now I'm depressed.


On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 7:43 AM, Mac Steagall <rsteagall at carolina.rr.com>wrote:

> 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/<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/<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.
> ______________________________**_________________
> Heeplist mailing list
> Heeplist at travellersintime.com
> http://travellersintime.com/**mailman/listinfo/heeplist_**
> travellersintime.com<http://travellersintime.com/mailman/listinfo/heeplist_travellersintime.com>
>
> Travellers in Time Website
> http://www.travellersintime.**com <http://www.travellersintime.com>
>
> Official Uriah Heep Website
> http://www.uriah-heep.com
>