Nazareth, a Scottish rock band formed in 1968 in Dunfermline, broke through internationally in the early 1970s with a gritty blend of hard rock and blues-rock, powered by big choruses, bigger riffs, and Dan McCafferty's unmistakable rasp.
Dan McCafferty (Full-name: William Daniel McCafferty) Dan McCafferty was the founding lead vocalist of Nazareth, born on 14 October 1946 in Dunfermline, Scotland. His gritty, blues-soaked voice became the band's calling card, fronting key tracks like "Broken Down Angel," "Bad Bad Boy," and their hit versions of "Love Hurts" and "This Flight Tonight." He retired from touring in 2013 due to health issues and died in 2022.
McCafferty's stage presence was pure road-tested hard rock: direct, loud, and emotionally dialed-in, whether the band was snarling through riff-rock or leaning into a slow-burn ballad.
Pete Agnew is a Scottish bassist and songwriter, born on 14 September 1946 in Dunfermline, Scotland. A founding member of Nazareth, his driving bass and backing vocals helped anchor the classic lineup, and he has remained the band's long-running constant through decades of touring and lineup changes.
As a writer, Agnew earned credits on Nazareth originals including "Hair of the Dog" (co-written with McCafferty, Charlton, and Sweet). Note: "Love Hurts" is a cover (written by Boudleaux Bryant), not a Nazareth original.
Manny Charlton (Birth-name: Manuel Charlton) Manny Charlton was a Spanish-born Scottish guitarist, songwriter, and producer, born 25 July 1941 in La Linea, Cadiz, Spain. A founding member of Nazareth, he was the band's lead guitarist from 1968 to 1990 and a key architect of their sound, both as a player and as producer on major 1970s releases, including Hair of the Dog.
Charlton earned songwriting credits on Nazareth staples such as "Razamanaz," "Bad Bad Boy," and "Hair of the Dog" (co-written). Important correction: "This Flight Tonight" is a Joni Mitchell song; Nazareth made it famous as a hard rock cover.
Darrell Sweet (Full-name: Darrell Antony Sweet) Darrell Sweet was a British drummer and founding member of Nazareth, born on 16 May 1947 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. He played with the band from its formation in 1968 until his death in 1999, bringing a tough, propulsive feel that helped define their classic 1970s run.
Sweet also earned co-writing credit on "Hair of the Dog" (with McCafferty, Agnew, and Charlton). He died of a heart attack on 30 April 1999 in New Albany, Indiana, while the band was on tour in the United States.
