First Gigs: Nazareth - from No Mean City to Dan McCafferty's farewell

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There’s an enjoyable tweet doing the rounds on social media just now - first gig, last gig,best gig, worst gig.

First one? Easy -  Nazareth, 1979, Usher Hall, Edinburgh.

So began a lifelong love of the band, their music, and gigs across the decades from the legendary Ayr Pavilion to the Liquid Rooms and on to the Alhambra, and ending at East End Park in Dunfermline.

It’s often forgotten how good, and how radio friendly, Nazareth - arguably one of the most successful bands ever to emerge from Fife - really were at the height of their 1970s success.

A band which started out kicking against the rule of covers only in the ballrooms of Dunfermline, went their own way, hit the road to to London, and honed their act with Roger Glover, bass player with Rainbow, at the helm.

And, just like Blackmore’s band, they knew how to rock and still curate songs that made the playlists.

Broken Down Angel remains as smashing today as it did back in 1973, ditto Holy Roller or Turn On Your Receiver.

That 1979 gig caught them at the end of their chart years - May The Sunshine, from memory, was a minor hit - but they’ve always played live and kept a pretty decent fan base across Europe and beyond.

Pete Agnew remains the sole surviving original member, and, for me, Nazareth without Dan McCafferty’s 747-jet propelled vocals just aren’t quite the same.

It’s ironic that those lungs let him down with the onset of COPD drawing his days on stage to an end, but they served him incredibly well for four decades.

The band’s 40th anniversary gig at the Alhambra was simply magnificent - the very definition of as triumphant homecoming in front of 2000 fans.

 A reminder of just how good they were, and what a great singer he was.

No flash, little chat, microphone placed diagonally across his front, he simply sang.

2013 saw McCafferty leave the stage through ill health but there was one final bow.

Fittingly, it came in his home town as Nazareth and fellow west Fifers, Big Country, teamed up for Legends of Rock - a short-lived music event at East End Park, Dunfermline in 2015.

New frontman Carl Sentance did the gig, but left the stage for the encore everyone wanted - McCafferty back behind the mic.

There’s a moment in every gig which defines the night - a snapshot you retain long after the stage lights have dimmed.

For me, it was McCafferty standing centre stage with his arm round Pete Agnew, belting out ‘Broken Down Angel’  for the very, very last time.

 Brothers in arms enjoying one final hurrah after 40 years on the road.




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