Nazareth’s McCafferty Collapses Again
Nazareth have been forced to cancel another run of shows after singer Dan McCafferty collapsed and required medical attention for the second time in a month.
The veteran Scottish outfit – who postponed a number of UK shows at the beginning of the year after McCafferty contracted a virus – had to abandon a Canadian tour in July when he collapsed on stage.
On Saturday their set at the Summerdays festival in Switzerland was cut short, with witnesses saying the singer complained about shortness of breath. Newspaper reports said he was later taken to hospital.
As a result their planned headline slot at Vosterfeesten in Belgium on Sunday was cancelled, along with shows in Germany and Sweden. Vosterfeesten Promoter Xavier Weijtens said: “Dan McCafferty is located in Switzerland in hospital after he suffered a stroke. The second in a short time, so we fear it is end of the line. We do not have time to find an alternative. But the other groups will today play for longer.”
Andreia Cosme, who works with Naz in Brazil, is reported to have suggested the band is over, telling fans: “Dan is alright, but I think we will not see more.”
The band have made no comment, but the tour page on their website has been taken down.
Bassist Pete Agnew last week recalled the moment his bandmate collapsed in Canada. He told the Edinburgh News: “Dan got on stage but he couldn’t draw breath. I shouted across, ‘Are you okay?’ But he looked at me and said something like, ‘Hell no!’
“It affected him badly. We decided it was daft to try to continue and better to give it a break.” But he emphasised: “Dan’s fine.”
Naz, who earlier this year denied they were about to split, are currently recording their 24th studio album, which is yet to be titled.