Dan McCafferty

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Dan McCafferty

| image = Nazareth @ Rothes Halls (4380017624) (2).jpg

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption = McCafferty in 2010

| image_size =

| birth_name = William Daniel McCafferty{{cite book |author= |title=Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uU9AAQA6kAMC |publisher=Touchstone Books|page=681 |date=8 November 2001 |isbn=9780743201209}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|10|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|11|08|1946|10|14|df=y}}

| instrument = Vocals, bagpipes, talkbox

| genre = Hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock, rock and roll

| occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician

| years_active = 1961–2022

| associated_acts = Nazareth

}}

William Daniel McCafferty (14 October 1946 – 8 November 2022) was a Scottish{{cite web |title=Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty dies aged 76 |url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/23110730.dunfermline-legendary-nazareth-singer-dan-mccafferty-dies-aged-76/ |access-date=8 November 2022 |website=Dunfermline Press |language=en}} vocalist and songwriter best known as the lead singer for the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth from its founding in 1968 to his retirement from touring with the band in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dan+McCafferty |title=Dan McCafferty Discography at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |date=14 October 1946 |access-date=15 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/nazareth-dan-mccafferty-could-continue-recording/ |title=Nazareth's Dan McCafferty Says He Could Continue Recording |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=31 August 2013 |access-date=22 February 2014}}

Life and career

= Nazareth and solo career =

Under the influence of artists such as Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Otis Redding, he became one of the founding members of Nazareth in 1968.{{cite web|url=http://rockureview.com/?p=1851 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411182302/http://rockureview.com/?p=1851 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 April 2013 |title=Nazareth – Still Loud 'N' Proud… |website=Rockureview.com |date=26 August 2010 |access-date=27 April 2013 }} He appeared on all of Nazareth's albums up to 2014 and toured with them for 45 years.{{cite web|url=http://rockureview.com/?tag=nazareth |title=Nazareth |website=Rockureview.com |date=26 August 2010 |access-date=15 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608232955/http://rockureview.com/?tag=nazareth |archive-date=8 June 2012 }} He co-wrote some of the big Nazareth hits, including "Broken Down Angel", and "Bad Bad Boy". He released three solo albums. In September 1975, his first solo single, a cover of The Rolling Stones 1966 song "Out of Time" peaked at number 41 in the UK.{{Cite web |title=The Chart Time Machine {{!}} Dan McCafferty Discography |url=https://www.charttimemachine.com/?view=artist&artist_id=1730 |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Chart Time Machine |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Dan McCafferty Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts |url=https://www.musicvf.com/Dan+McCafferty.art |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=www.musicvf.com}}

= Retirement from touring with Nazareth =

On 29 August 2013, Nazareth announced McCafferty's retirement from touring with the band due to health issues.{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/08/nazareth-lead-dan-mccafferty-retires.html |title=VVN Music: Nazareth Lead Dan McCafferty Retires From Band After 45 Years |website=Vintagevinylnews.com |access-date=31 August 2013 |archive-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104072850/http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/08/nazareth-lead-dan-mccafferty-retires.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nazarethdirect.co.uk/website/888/08/2013/ |title=Nazareth latest news|website=Nazarethdirect.co.uk |access-date=31 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904071802/http://www.nazarethdirect.co.uk/website/888/08/2013/ |archive-date=4 September 2013 }} He elaborated on the specifics of the health issues and the state of his situation in an interview with the UK music magazine, Classic Rock. He stated that he had not suffered a stroke as had been reported in the press. He said that his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that has "worsened in recent years" had made him leave the stage in Switzerland in late August 2013 after only three songs, indicating that, "You don’t know when it's going to come on, but suddenly you can't breathe." Commenting about his most recent episode, at the Swiss festival, McCafferty maintained, "if you can't do the job you shouldn't be there — Nazareth's too big for that." McCafferty also revealed that another health problem was responsible for his onstage collapse at a concert in Canada in July 2013 – a burst stomach ulcer.{{cite web|url=https://www.cranbrooktownsman.com/news/concert-cancelled-after-front-man-collapses/ |title=Concert cancelled after front man collapses|website=Cranbrooktownsman.com|date=11 July 2013 |access-date=24 February 2020}} He stated reflecting back on the incident, "I thought I'd be fine, but you lose so much blood when that happens." In addition McCafferty said that he expected Nazareth to continue on without him. "I really hope they get someone else," he declared. "I'm sure they will."{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Although McCafferty retired from performing, Nazareth fans can still hear his voice on their 2014 album Rock 'n' Roll Telephone. The singer also revealed that he could record more new music, either with Nazareth or as a solo artist. He clarified: "To go into a studio and sing isn't like doing a gig. 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." McCafferty expressed his appreciation to his fans near the end of the interview by saying: "Let everyone know I appreciate they've been there for all these years."{{cite web |url=http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/2013/08/29/nazareth-singer-dan-mccafferty-announces-retirement-from-performing-because-of-lung-ailment/ |title=Nazareth Singer Dan McCafferty Announces Retirement from Performing Because of Lung Ailment |website=Classichitsandoldies.com |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=31 August 2013 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110112140/http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/2013/08/29/nazareth-singer-dan-mccafferty-announces-retirement-from-performing-because-of-lung-ailment/ |url-status=usurped }}

= Semi-retired works =

He continued to sing live around the world and record on occasion.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyIYNZF6PDI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/cyIYNZF6PDI |archive-date=22 December 2021|url-status=live|title=Dan McCafferty-2015-Love Hurts (with Luigi Sferrazza orchestra)|date=21 May 2015|access-date=14 December 2017|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvCDQ6ooKvI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/IvCDQ6ooKvI |archive-date=22 December 2021|url-status=live|title=Dan McCafferty – Animals 2015 Live Kiev|date=25 May 2015|access-date=14 December 2017|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2EHwXdsRmI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/g2EHwXdsRmI |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Dan McCafferty, Graham Bonnet and John Lawton to Sochi|date=22 May 2015|access-date=14 December 2017|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWMxuJ1WnJY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/oWMxuJ1WnJY |archive-date=22 December 2021|url-status=live|title=Dan McCafferty: на фестивале Белые ночи Питер |date=12 July 2014|access-date=14 December 2017|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} On 21 June 2019, he released a new music video titled "Tell Me". It was from the solo album Last Testament, released on 18 October 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ear-music.net/news/2019/first-solo-album-30-years-legendary-voice-nazareth-brand-new-album-last-testament-out|title=earMUSIC – news, artists & new releases | News|website=Ear-music.net|access-date=21 June 2019|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026104533/https://www.ear-music.net/news/2019/first-solo-album-30-years-legendary-voice-nazareth-brand-new-album-last-testament-out|url-status=dead}} McCafferty's first solo album since 1987's Into The Ring. McCafferty continued to work occasionally until his death.

Personal life and death

McCafferty was born in Dunfermline, Fife.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2022 |title=Dan McCafferty Dies: Nazareth Co-Founder Who - SidTimes |url=https://sidtimes.com/blog/2022/11/09/dan-mccafferty-dies-nazareth-cofounde/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109090019/https://sidtimes.com/blog/2022/11/09/dan-mccafferty-dies-nazareth-cofounde/ |url-status=dead }} McCafferty was married and had two children.{{cite web |title=Dan Mccafferty of Nazareth @ Steel Mill |url=http://www.kkdowning.net/Interviews/nazareth_interview.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618011524/http://www.kkdowning.net/Interviews/nazareth_interview.htm |archive-date=18 June 2012 |access-date=15 December 2012 |website=Kkdowning.net}}

McCafferty suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and died on 8 November 2022, at the age of 76.{{cite news |last1=Talseth |first1=Thomas |date=8 November 2022 |title=Nazareth-vokalist Dan McCafferty er død |publisher=VG |url=https://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/i/APvK9r/nazareth-vokalist-dan-mccafferty-er-doed |access-date=8 November 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2205462/former-nazareth-frontman-dan-mccafferty-dead-at-76/news/|title=Former Nazareth Frontman Dan McCafferty Dead At 76|website=Stereogum.com|date=8 November 2022|access-date=8 November 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/dan-mccafferty-dead-nazareth-singer-love-hurts-hair-of-the-dog-1235167187/|title=Dan McCafferty Dies: Nazareth Co-Founder Who Sang Lead On 'Love Hurts' Was 76|work=Deadline|first1=Erik|last1=Pedersen|date=9 November 2022}}{{cite web |title=Dan McCafferty obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/13/dan-mccafferty-obituary |website=theguardian.com |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=23 December 2022}} Tributes were paid by rock musicians Brian Johnson and Axl Rose, both of whom mentioned him as an influence on their own singing.{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/brian-johnson-pays-tribute-to-nazareths-dan-mccafferty-i-wanted-to-sing-like-him|website=Louder Sound|title=Brian Johnson pays tribute to Nazareth's Dan McCafferty: "I wanted to sing like him"|date=December 2, 2022|access-date=December 24, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/axl-rose-pays-tribute-to-late-nazareth-singer-dan-mccafferty-a-tough-pill-to-swallow|title=Axl Rose pays tribute to late Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty: "a tough pill to swallow"|website=Louder Sound|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=December 24, 2023}}