Nazareth Singer Dan McCafferty Announces Retirement from Performing Because of Lung Ailment

Some sad news to report for Nazareth fans: The band’s frontman, Dan McCafferty, is retiring from the stage after struggling with a health issue that has made it very difficult for him to perform live.

A message posted Wednesday on Nazareth’s official website announces, “We sadly have to tell you all that Dan has been forced to retire due to ill health. He suffers from C.O.P.D. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). It has gotten worse lately and after trying to play a festival in Switzerland last weekend Dan found it impossible to continue after performing only three songs.”

The announcement further explains that the singer told his band mates in the dressing room after coming off stage “that he couldn’t go on any longer.”

McCafferty discussed his health troubles and decision to retire in new interview with U.K. magazine Classic Rock. While a news report from Switzerland claimed that Dan had suffered a stroke, he insisted that “that’s completely untrue — thank goodness and touch wood,” adding, “I’m not in hospital in Switzerland at all.”

He said of the C.O.P.D he’s been fighting, “it’s been getting worse over the years. 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 last month — a burst stomach ulcer. “I thought I’d be fine,” he told Classic Rock, “but you lose so much blood when that happens.”

Dan also said he expects Nazareth to continue on without him. “I really hope they get someone else,” he declared. “I’m sure they can.”

Even though McCafferty is retiring from performing, Nazareth fans still will get to hear his voice on an as-yet-untitled new album the band recently completed. The singer also revealed that he still should be able to record more new music, either with Nazareth or as a solo artist.

“To go into a studio and sing isn’t like doing a gig,” he explained. “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.”

As the interview came to a close, McCafferty sent out this message to his fans: “Let everyone know I appreciate they’ve been there for all these years.”