Nazareth started out as The Shadettes in the late 60s, but later changed their name to Nazareth.
Nazareth was formed in December 1968 in Dunfermline, Scotland, out of the ashes of semi-professional local group The Shadettes (formed in 1961) by vocalist Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton (ex Mark V and The Red Hawks), bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet. They took their name from the first line of The Band's classic song, "The Weight" ("I pulled into Nazareth / Was feelin' about half past dead...")
The band moved to London, England in 1970, and released their self-titled debut album in 1971. After getting some attention with their second album Exercises, released in 1972, Nazareth issued Razamanaz in early 1973. This collection spawned two UK Top Ten hits, "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy." This was followed by Loud 'N' Proud in late 1973, which contained another hit single with a hard-rocking cover of Joni Mitchell's song "This Flight Tonight". Then came another album Rampant, in 1974, that was equally successful although it did not yield a single. A non-album song, again a cover version, this time of Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle", was a UK Top 20 entry in 1975.
Hair of the Dog was released in 1975. The title track of that album (popularly, though incorrectly, known as "Son Of A Bitch" due to its chorus lyrics) became a staple of 1970s rock radio. The American version of the album included a song originally recorded by The Everly Brothers, and also covered by Roy Orbison, the expressively melodic ballad "Love Hurts", that was released as a hit single in the UK and in the U.S., where it went platinum. In addition, the track became the band's only U.S. Top Ten hit.
In 1979, second guitarist Zal Cleminson was added to the lineup, remaining for two albums, No Mean City and Malice in Wonderland, contributing numerous compositions. Malice in Wonderland produced a popular AOR single called "Holiday".
Various Nazareth lineups continued to make studio albums and tour throughout the Eighties and Nineties, although their popularity had declined such that some albums no longer received a UK release, nor American. However, they remained popular in Europe, particularly Germany, where "Dream On" became a hit single.
In 1999, while touring the U.S., original drummer Darrell Sweet died at age 51 - the result of a heart attack. He was replaced by bassist Pete Agnew's son for later editions of the band. More recently the band toured Canada with the opening act, Headpins.
In February 2008, a new album was released on the Hamburg based label Edel Entertainment entitled The Newz. The release of the album coincided with Nazareth's fortieth anniversary tour which started on 25 January in Sweden and visits most of Europe, finishing on the 4 November in Norway.
Current line-up
Jimmy Morrison : Guitare
Dan Mccafferty : Chant
Pete Agnew : Basse
Darell Sweet : Drums
Ronnie Leahy : Keyboard
Manny Charlton : Guitar
Former/Past members
John Locke : Keyboard
Zal Cleminson : Guitar
Billy Rankin : Guitar
Discography
Nazareth (1971)
BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1972)
Exercises (1972)
Razamanaz (1973) # 157 US # 11 UK # 48 Germany # 39 Canada (Platinum)
Loud 'N' Proud (1974) # 150 US # 10 UK # 8 Germany # 17 Canada (Platinum) # 1 Austria # 9 Norway # 1 Finland # 1 Sweden # 1 Switzerland
Rampant (1974) # 157 US # 13 UK # 11 Germany # 80 Canada (Gold) # 1 Austria # 3 Norway
Hair of the Dog (1975) # 17 US (Platinum) # 27 Germany # 20 Canada (Gold) # 7 Austria # 5 Norway
Greatest Hits (1975) # 54 UK (Silver) # 37 Germany (Gold) # 1 Canada (Platinum) # 7 Norway # 31 Sweden # 21 New Zealand
Close Enough for Rock 'N' Roll (1976) # 24 US # 42 Germany # 12 Canada (Gold) # 9 Sweden # 40 New Zealand
Hot Tracks (1976) # 120 US
Play 'N' the Game (1976) # 75 US # 14 Canada (Gold) # 14 Sweden
Expect No Mercy (1977) # 82 US # 78 Canada (Gold)
No Mean City (1979) # 88 US # 34 UK # 81 Canada (Gold) # 20 Norway # 33 Sweden
Malice in Wonderland (1980) # 41 US # 43 Germany # 19 Canada (Gold) # 9 Norway
The Fool Circle (1981) # 70 US # 60 UK # 31 Canada # 29 Norway # 33 Sweden
Snaz (1981) # 83 US # 78 UK
2XS (1982) # 122 US # 42 Germany # 74 Canada # 9 Norway
Sound Elixir (1983) # 52 Germany # 8 Norway
The Catch (1984) # 60 Germany # 12 Norway
The Ballad Album (1985) (compilation) # 5 Norway (Gold)
Cinema (1986) # 18 Norway
Snakes 'N' Ladders (1989) # 10 Norway # 26 Switzerland
The Ballad Album Vol.2 (1989) (compilation) #12 Norway
No Jive (1991) # 31 Austria # 36 Switzerland
From the Vaults (1993) (compilation)
Move Me (1994) # 36 Switzerland
Boogaloo (1998)
Greatest Hits Volume II (1998) (compilation)
Live at the Beeb (live) (1998)
The Very Best of Nazareth (2001) # 23 Norway
Homecoming (live) (2002)
Alive and Kicking (2003)
Maximum XS (2003)
The River sessions live 1981 (live) (2004)
Live in Brazil (2007)
The Newz (2008) # 51 Sweden # 68 Switzerland # 75 Austria
Official Website: http://www.nazarethdirect.co.uk/
Listen to Nazareth Music!
Watch Nazareth Video!
Love Hurts
Dream On
Where Are You Now (Live)
Holiday
Shot Me Down
I Don't Want to Go Without You
Whatever You Want Babe
Hair Of The Dog
Nazareth was formed in December 1968 in Dunfermline, Scotland, out of the ashes of semi-professional local group The Shadettes (formed in 1961) by vocalist Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton (ex Mark V and The Red Hawks), bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet. They took their name from the first line of The Band's classic song, "The Weight" ("I pulled into Nazareth / Was feelin' about half past dead...")
The band moved to London, England in 1970, and released their self-titled debut album in 1971. After getting some attention with their second album Exercises, released in 1972, Nazareth issued Razamanaz in early 1973. This collection spawned two UK Top Ten hits, "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy." This was followed by Loud 'N' Proud in late 1973, which contained another hit single with a hard-rocking cover of Joni Mitchell's song "This Flight Tonight". Then came another album Rampant, in 1974, that was equally successful although it did not yield a single. A non-album song, again a cover version, this time of Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle", was a UK Top 20 entry in 1975.
Hair of the Dog was released in 1975. The title track of that album (popularly, though incorrectly, known as "Son Of A Bitch" due to its chorus lyrics) became a staple of 1970s rock radio. The American version of the album included a song originally recorded by The Everly Brothers, and also covered by Roy Orbison, the expressively melodic ballad "Love Hurts", that was released as a hit single in the UK and in the U.S., where it went platinum. In addition, the track became the band's only U.S. Top Ten hit.
In 1979, second guitarist Zal Cleminson was added to the lineup, remaining for two albums, No Mean City and Malice in Wonderland, contributing numerous compositions. Malice in Wonderland produced a popular AOR single called "Holiday".
Various Nazareth lineups continued to make studio albums and tour throughout the Eighties and Nineties, although their popularity had declined such that some albums no longer received a UK release, nor American. However, they remained popular in Europe, particularly Germany, where "Dream On" became a hit single.
In 1999, while touring the U.S., original drummer Darrell Sweet died at age 51 - the result of a heart attack. He was replaced by bassist Pete Agnew's son for later editions of the band. More recently the band toured Canada with the opening act, Headpins.
In February 2008, a new album was released on the Hamburg based label Edel Entertainment entitled The Newz. The release of the album coincided with Nazareth's fortieth anniversary tour which started on 25 January in Sweden and visits most of Europe, finishing on the 4 November in Norway.
Current line-up
Jimmy Morrison : Guitare
Dan Mccafferty : Chant
Pete Agnew : Basse
Darell Sweet : Drums
Ronnie Leahy : Keyboard
Manny Charlton : Guitar
Former/Past members
John Locke : Keyboard
Zal Cleminson : Guitar
Billy Rankin : Guitar
Discography
Nazareth (1971)
BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1972)
Exercises (1972)
Razamanaz (1973) # 157 US # 11 UK # 48 Germany # 39 Canada (Platinum)
Loud 'N' Proud (1974) # 150 US # 10 UK # 8 Germany # 17 Canada (Platinum) # 1 Austria # 9 Norway # 1 Finland # 1 Sweden # 1 Switzerland
Rampant (1974) # 157 US # 13 UK # 11 Germany # 80 Canada (Gold) # 1 Austria # 3 Norway
Hair of the Dog (1975) # 17 US (Platinum) # 27 Germany # 20 Canada (Gold) # 7 Austria # 5 Norway
Greatest Hits (1975) # 54 UK (Silver) # 37 Germany (Gold) # 1 Canada (Platinum) # 7 Norway # 31 Sweden # 21 New Zealand
Close Enough for Rock 'N' Roll (1976) # 24 US # 42 Germany # 12 Canada (Gold) # 9 Sweden # 40 New Zealand
Hot Tracks (1976) # 120 US
Play 'N' the Game (1976) # 75 US # 14 Canada (Gold) # 14 Sweden
Expect No Mercy (1977) # 82 US # 78 Canada (Gold)
No Mean City (1979) # 88 US # 34 UK # 81 Canada (Gold) # 20 Norway # 33 Sweden
Malice in Wonderland (1980) # 41 US # 43 Germany # 19 Canada (Gold) # 9 Norway
The Fool Circle (1981) # 70 US # 60 UK # 31 Canada # 29 Norway # 33 Sweden
Snaz (1981) # 83 US # 78 UK
2XS (1982) # 122 US # 42 Germany # 74 Canada # 9 Norway
Sound Elixir (1983) # 52 Germany # 8 Norway
The Catch (1984) # 60 Germany # 12 Norway
The Ballad Album (1985) (compilation) # 5 Norway (Gold)
Cinema (1986) # 18 Norway
Snakes 'N' Ladders (1989) # 10 Norway # 26 Switzerland
The Ballad Album Vol.2 (1989) (compilation) #12 Norway
No Jive (1991) # 31 Austria # 36 Switzerland
From the Vaults (1993) (compilation)
Move Me (1994) # 36 Switzerland
Boogaloo (1998)
Greatest Hits Volume II (1998) (compilation)
Live at the Beeb (live) (1998)
The Very Best of Nazareth (2001) # 23 Norway
Homecoming (live) (2002)
Alive and Kicking (2003)
Maximum XS (2003)
The River sessions live 1981 (live) (2004)
Live in Brazil (2007)
The Newz (2008) # 51 Sweden # 68 Switzerland # 75 Austria
Official Website: http://www.nazarethdirect.co.uk/
Listen to Nazareth Music!
Watch Nazareth Video!
Love Hurts
Dream On
Where Are You Now (Live)
Holiday
Shot Me Down
I Don't Want to Go Without You
Whatever You Want Babe
Hair Of The Dog
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