Nazareth
Nazareth are a Scottish hard rock band formed in Dunfermline in 1968. The band were formed from the remaining members of a local semi-professional group, the Shadettes, by vocalist Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet. They were influenced by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and took their name from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, referenced in the song "The Weight". Nazareth moved to London in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in 1971. Their second album, "Exercises" (1972), led to tours supporting Deep Purple, followed by "Razamanaz" (1973), which included UK Top Ten hits "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy". Subsequent albums included "Loud 'N' Proud" (1973) with a cover of Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight", and "Rampant" (1974) with the single "Shanghai'd in Shanghai". The non-album cover "My White Bicycle" reached the UK Top 20 in 1975.
The 1975 album "Hair of the Dog", produced by Manny Charlton, featured the title track and a cover of the Everly Brothers song "Love Hurts". "Love Hurts" became a top ten hit in multiple countries, including the US, where it went platinum, and reached number one in six countries. In 1979, second guitarist Zal Cleminson joined for two albums, "No Mean City" and "Malice in Wonderland", contributing compositions and the single "Holiday". In 1981, the band contributed "Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)" to the soundtrack of the film "Heavy Metal".
Nazareth continued recording and touring through the 1980s and 1990s, with a reduced international profile, though they remained popular in parts of Europe, especially Germany. Billy Rankin replaced Manny Charlton on the 1991 album "No Jive" and remained until 1994. Guns N' Roses covered "Hair of the Dog" on "The Spaghetti Incident?" in 1993, highlighting the band’s influence. Jimmy Murrison and keyboard player Ronnie Leahy joined the band to continue touring after Rankin’s departure. Original drummer Darrell Sweet died in 1999 and was replaced by Lee Agnew, Pete Agnew’s son. Former keyboardist John Locke died in 2006.
The band released "The Newz" in 2008 to coincide with their fortieth anniversary tour, followed by "Big Dogz" in 2011. Dan McCafferty retired in 2013 due to ill health, leaving Pete Agnew as the only remaining original member. Linton Osborne replaced McCafferty in 2014 but departed in 2015, with Carl Sentance taking over as lead vocalist. "Tattooed on My Brain" was released in 2018, followed by a 50th Anniversary Tour. Manny Charlton died in 2022, and Dan McCafferty died later that year. In December 2025, Sentance was replaced by Italian singer Gianni Pontillo, who made his live debut with the band in February 2026.
Studio albums
Nazareth (1971)
Exercises (1972)
Razamanaz (1973)
Loud 'n' Proud (1973)
Rampant (1974)
Hair of the Dog (1975)
Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll (1976)
Play 'n' the Game (1976)
Expect No Mercy (1977)
No Mean City (1979)
Malice in Wonderland (1980)
The Fool Circle (1981)
2XS (1982)
Sound Elixir (1983)
The Catch (1984)
Cinema (1986)
Snakes 'n' Ladders (1989)
No Jive (1991)
Move Me (1994)
Boogaloo (1998)
The Newz (2008)
Big Dogz (2011)
Rock 'n' Roll Telephone (2014)
Tattooed on My Brain (2018)
Surviving the Law (2022)
The 1975 album "Hair of the Dog", produced by Manny Charlton, featured the title track and a cover of the Everly Brothers song "Love Hurts". "Love Hurts" became a top ten hit in multiple countries, including the US, where it went platinum, and reached number one in six countries. In 1979, second guitarist Zal Cleminson joined for two albums, "No Mean City" and "Malice in Wonderland", contributing compositions and the single "Holiday". In 1981, the band contributed "Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)" to the soundtrack of the film "Heavy Metal".
Nazareth continued recording and touring through the 1980s and 1990s, with a reduced international profile, though they remained popular in parts of Europe, especially Germany. Billy Rankin replaced Manny Charlton on the 1991 album "No Jive" and remained until 1994. Guns N' Roses covered "Hair of the Dog" on "The Spaghetti Incident?" in 1993, highlighting the band’s influence. Jimmy Murrison and keyboard player Ronnie Leahy joined the band to continue touring after Rankin’s departure. Original drummer Darrell Sweet died in 1999 and was replaced by Lee Agnew, Pete Agnew’s son. Former keyboardist John Locke died in 2006.
The band released "The Newz" in 2008 to coincide with their fortieth anniversary tour, followed by "Big Dogz" in 2011. Dan McCafferty retired in 2013 due to ill health, leaving Pete Agnew as the only remaining original member. Linton Osborne replaced McCafferty in 2014 but departed in 2015, with Carl Sentance taking over as lead vocalist. "Tattooed on My Brain" was released in 2018, followed by a 50th Anniversary Tour. Manny Charlton died in 2022, and Dan McCafferty died later that year. In December 2025, Sentance was replaced by Italian singer Gianni Pontillo, who made his live debut with the band in February 2026.
Studio albums
Nazareth (1971)
Exercises (1972)
Razamanaz (1973)
Loud 'n' Proud (1973)
Rampant (1974)
Hair of the Dog (1975)
Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll (1976)
Play 'n' the Game (1976)
Expect No Mercy (1977)
No Mean City (1979)
Malice in Wonderland (1980)
The Fool Circle (1981)
2XS (1982)
Sound Elixir (1983)
The Catch (1984)
Cinema (1986)
Snakes 'n' Ladders (1989)
No Jive (1991)
Move Me (1994)
Boogaloo (1998)
The Newz (2008)
Big Dogz (2011)
Rock 'n' Roll Telephone (2014)
Tattooed on My Brain (2018)
Surviving the Law (2022)
