Nazareth Group: a success story

The Scottish team Nazareth is one of the giants of rock. For all time of its existence, it has changed its composition many times and constantly experimented with the repertoire. In its stellar history there were falls and ups ...

Origin

Their way Nazareth began in the provincial Scottish town of Dunfermline, where several local musicians gathered to play together. It was in the early 60's of last century, and then the team still had a completely different name - Shadettes.

Several years passed before the line-up acquired its classic look and included soloist Dan Macaferty, guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Egnyur and drummer Darrell Sweet.

Moving and new name

At that time in Scotland there were a lot of bands like Shadettes. And each of them had great ambitions, dreaming of a great success. But it was foolish to expect this, staying in the province ...

In 1968, four musicians decided to take on a new, more effective title, and three years later - to move to the capital. So the group "Nazareth" was in London, driven by prestigious record companies, eminent producers and thousands of stadiums. True, all this to former provincials has been inaccessible for the time being.

But they were young and full of energy. In 1971, the rock band Nazareth gives birth to his "first child" - the self-titled album. Critics of the warmly responded about it, but the commercial success of the plate did not have. Only two things from the album later hit the tops of the charts of France and Germany. And that was enough for the band to get an invitation to a rather successful tour. But at home everything was still deaf ... The second album called Exercises failed miserably.

Fateful meeting and fracture

Critics called "Nazareth" too scattered, reproached in excess of experiments. And the musicians continued to look for themselves, work hard and believe in luck. And the last did not take long.

In 1972, the Nazaret band went on a joint tour of the United States with the then-popular "Deep Purple". Performances are excellent, and new friends are interested in the bass player "Deep Purple" Roger Glover. He is called to produce Nazareth, and under his strict guidance in 1973 the band released the third album Razamanaz.

This record became a turning point in the creative destiny of the Scots. They woke up famous. The songs of the band Nazareth are becoming hits - they are sung by Europe and Asia, and musicians are rapidly becoming rich.

Like cheese in butter

Every year, the popularity of people from the provincial Dunfermline only increased. And they did not rest on their laurels, but forged the iron while it was hot. After the third comes the fourth plate, behind it - the fifth, etc.

Such albums of Nazareth as Loud 'N' Proud, Hair of the dog, Close enough for rock'n'roll, Expect no mercy and others, became a real adornment of the musical life of the seventies. First Europe, and then the whole world leans towards the feet of Nazareth.

Of course, it did not do without turmoil. There were sad farewells to the old participants and meetings with new ones, there were also relatively unsuccessful work ... But by and large the seventies can be called a golden period in the history of the group.

After parting with Roger Glover back in 1974, Nazareth copes well without him, remaining on the crest of the wave until the early eighties.

Decrease and takeoff

Happiness can not last forever. The eighties brought a lot of troubles to the musicians. After one of the "gray" albums from them, the permanent partners in the person of the record company A & M refuse. Then the rockers "throw" on the money own manager, disappearing along with the entire budget in an unknown direction. The keyboard player is leaving ... One by one, discs are born.

And again, patience and faith in the best came to the aid. The situation straightens to the end of the 80's and is replaced by a new succession of successful world tours and gold plates. A special success enjoyed the album Boogaloo, released in 1998.

Hit

But the 1999th was for the Scots mourning. 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 it, the guys became really tight.

But, having gathered all the will into a fist, they once again rose above the abyss. And again we set to work - now in memory of our departed friend ... New albums, tours, including Russia in 2003, full halls, enthusiastic fans ...

Like a bird Phoenix, "Nazareth" rose from the ashes and continues to live. Leaving an increasingly tangible mark in the history of rock music of the 20th and 21st centuries.