Dan McCafferty officially retires from Nazareth

After two recent incidents where shows by Nazareth had to be cut short due to illness, lead vocalist Dan McCafferty has announced that he is retiring from the band.

McCafferty collapsed on stage in Cranbrook, Canada on July 9 just moments into the band's show and the balance of their tour was cancelled.

Yesterday, word came out that he once again collapsed at a show last Friday in Switzerland with a news report saying that both incidents were caused by strokes.

The Nazareth website is carrying the band's statement on the retirement, naming the cause as COPD:

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.

In the dressing room afterwards he told the band that he couldn't go on any longer.

We'll keep you updated on further developments.

The COPD diagnosis ties in with reports from both events where it was sed that McCafferty was having trouble breathing.

McCafferty was one of the founding members of Nazareth in 1968 and has been with them throughout their 45 year legacy.

More from VVN Music