The Scottish Nazareth team is one of the rock giants. Throughout its existence, she changed her composition many times and constantly experimented with the repertoire. In her stellar history there were falls and ups ...
Origin
The Nazareth group began its journey in the provincial Scottish town of Dunfermline, where several local musicians gathered to play together. It was in the early 60s of the last century, and then the team bore a completely different name - Shadettes.
Several years passed before the composition acquired its classic look and included soloist Dan McAfferty, guitarist Manny Charlton, bass player Pete Agnur and drummer Darrell Sweet.
Relocation and new name
There were so many bands like Shadettes in Scotland at that time. And each of them had great ambitions, dreaming of a resounding success. But it was foolish to count on it, remaining in the province ...
In 1968, the four musicians decided to take on a new, more spectacular name, and three years later - to move to the capital. So the Nazareth group ended up in London, attracting prestigious record companies, renowned producers and thousands of stadiums. True, all this was not available to the former provincials for the time being.
But they were young and full of strength. In 1971, the Nazareth rock band gives birth to its "firstborn" - the album of the same name. Critics spoke warmly of him, but the record did not have commercial success. Only two things from the album a bit later hit the top of the charts of France and Germany. And that was enough for the group to receive an invitation to a rather successful tour. But at home everything was still dull ... The second album, called Exercises, failed miserably.
Fateful meeting and fracture
Critics called Nazareth too scattered, accused of an abundance of experiments. And the musicians continued to look for themselves, work hard and believe in luck. And the latter did not take long to wait.
In 1972, the Nazareth band went on a joint tour of the United States with the then-popular Deep Deep. The performances are excellent, and new friends are interested in the bassist Deep Deep Roger Glover. He volunteers to produce Nazareth, and under his strict guidance in 1973 the band released their third album, Razamanaz.
This record was a turning point in the creative fate of the Scots. They woke up famous. Songs of the Nazareth group become hits - Europe and Asia sing them, and musicians are rapidly getting richer.
Like cheese in butter
Every year, the popularity of people from provincial Dunfermline only increased. And they did not rest on their laurels, but forged iron while it was hot. After the third comes the fourth disc, behind it - the fifth, etc.
Albums of the Nazareth group such as Loud 'N' Proud, Hair of the dog, Close enough for rock'n'roll, Expect no mercy and others became a real decoration of the musical life of the seventies. First, Europe, and then the whole world leans to the feet of "Nazareth."
Of course, it could not do without turmoil. There were sad farewells to the old participants and meetings with new ones, and relatively unsuccessful work happened ... But by and large, the seventies can be called a golden period in the history of the group.
Having parted with Roger Glover in 1974, Nazareth copes well without him, remaining on the crest of the wave until the early eighties.
Lower and take off
Happiness cannot last forever. The eighties brought musicians a lot of trouble. After one of the “gray” albums, their permanent partners in the person of the record company A&M refuse them. Then the rocker “throws” his own manager for money, disappearing along with the entire budget in an unknown direction. The keyboard player leaves ... One by one, failed disks are born.
And again, patience and faith in the best came to the rescue. The situation is getting better by the end of the 80s and is being replaced by a new series of successful world tours and gold records. The album Boogaloo, released in 1998, was particularly successful.
Hit
But 1999 became a mourning for the Scots. The Nazareth group is losing its drummer, who died of a heart attack. Darrell Sweet stood at the origins of the collective and never betrayed him. Without him, the guys became really tight.
But, having gathered all their will into a fist, they once again rose above the abyss. And they set to work again - now in memory of their departed friend ... New albums, tours, including tours in Russia in 2003, full halls, enthusiastic fans ...
Like a Phoenix bird, Nazareth has risen from the ashes and continues to live. Leaving an increasingly tangible mark in the history of rock music of the 20-21 centuries.