Igor Sandler told how he tried to teach Dan McCafferty to sing

Dan McCafferty is one of the most recognizable voices in hard rock history. He would have turned 80 this October. And when I think of Dan, the first thing I hear is his voice, which is incredible, hoarse, bruising, like a timbre passed through sandpaper. And then I remember his laughter. In life, Dan was a surprisingly bright person. Open, funny, with a great sense of humor. You could talk to him about music, argue, joke, fool around. There was no star distance between us.

** *

The story of Nazareth began, like most rock giants, not with huge stadiums and gold records. In the late sixties, four Scottish musicians - Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew and drummer Darrell Sweet decided to seriously engage in rock and roll. The name was taken from the song The Band The Weight, which mentioned the city of Nazareth – not the biblical, but its namesake in Pennsylvania. America, by the way, is rich in such “mockingbirds” – what is not there, even Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, provincial towns in the depths of the American prairies. So not only a few hundred thousand natural Americans – native Muscovites, but Nazareth could on occasion, studying American toponymy, call themselves a group of Moscow. But they called themselves what they called..

Interestingly, the group has maintained its original composition for many years. In the world of rock and roll, where musicians often changed bands more often than guitar strings, this was a real rarity. The first albums did not make Nazareth world stars. But the musicians kept working, touring, looking for their own sound.

And then there was Roger Glover of Deep Purple. He produced their third album Razamanaz in 1973 and it was a real breakthrough. The album brought the band wide fame, and the songs Broken Down Angel and Bad Bad Boy hit the British charts. This was followed by Loud 'n' Proud, Rampant and finally Hair of the Dog, a song that became their hallmark. This album in those stuffy 70s, when we allowed anything about rock, or only under the heading “Their customs”, I brought from Moscow to Saratov. I bought it, of course, from the hands of speculators for crazy money. And this “carriage” became an event for all advanced music lovers of Saratov. We listened to this album for hours and many times, and there was no limit to our happiness!

** *

Nazareth had an amazing talent for taking other people's songs and turning them into their own hits. One of the best stories involves folk rock singer Joni Mitchell. Musicians listened to her album Blue on a tour bus. They especially liked This Flight Tonight, a subtle, almost chamber composition. And they decided to turn it into a real hard rock!

When Nazareth met Joni Mitchell at a studio in Los Angeles and told them they had recorded her song, she wondered: how did a rock band get on with such a thing? And then I heard the results. The song became a big hit. And the funny thing is that later Joni herself, presenting her at a concert, called this song Nazareth! That is, the author of the song presents his own work as a song by a band that just made a cover! This story was repeatedly told by Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew.

And with Love Hurts, which actually became the anthem of the group, the story turned out even more interesting. The song was written by Budlo Bryant for The Everly Brothers. Long before Nazareth, it was also performed by Roy Orbison, Graham Parsons and Emmyla Harris. But it was Dan McCafferty who sang it so that millions of people began to perceive Love Hurts as a Nazareth song.

Guitarist Manny Charlton recalled a funny detail: when he and drummer Darrell Sweet began recording the instrumental basis of Love Hurts, Dan and Pete Agnew were absent altogether – went to the wedding. We returned, listened to what our colleagues had done, and the work on the future world hit continued. So much for the unpredictability of rock and roll, when great songs are born without any grand plan. But the main secret of Love Hurts' success, of course, was Dan's voice. He could sing as if every line went through him.

** *

And now the story I started with was how I suggested that Dan "put a voice." He and I talked a lot. And every time I was amazed at how different this man was from his stage image. On the stage there is an incredible energy, a powerful, hoarse voice, a real rock and roll beast. And in communication - a kind, cheerful, completely open person who loved jokes.

Once we were in a great mood, talking, laughing. And then, what they call me, I got carried away. I'm like, 'Dan, look, I've been a professional music student for seventeen years -- music school, college, conservatory. If you sing, you'll know how! Of course, overtones are incredible, the timbre is completely unique, but from the point of view of the classical vocal school – everything is bypassed.

And I said, "Let me teach you!" I will give you a normal voice, make you a real professional singer! McCafferty's eyes are rounded. I'm already in a rage. I said, “Hey, hold the microphone!” He takes the microphone confusedly, and I begin to portray his manner of performance - all these incredible wheezing, tears, characteristic intonations. I'm trying to copy something that has driven Nazareth fans crazy for decades.

Of course, it turned out that performance! Dan laughed cranky. I couldn't calm down for a long time. But the great thing is, when we met again, he remembered the episode and we started laughing again.

That's what I really appreciated in him - no arrogance, healthy self-irony, although a man with a world name, tens of millions of fans, a huge musical history behind him.

But seriously, voices like McCafferty prove one important thing: you can learn vocal techniques for decades, put your breath right, achieve academic purity of sound, but there are things you can't teach. Individuality! Dan's was absolutely phenomenal. From the first two notes, one could tell: McCafferty sings. And no teacher in the world could create or “put” a second such voice.

That's what real vocal skills are. Not the number of high notes taken, but the ability to convey completely different emotions while remaining yourself. No wonder Dan influenced a generation of rock vocalists. Even Guns N' Roses recorded their own version of Hair of the Dog, and Axl Rose was often compared to McCafferty for his vocals.

** *

Unfortunately, the endless touring and years of hard work did not pass without a trace. In 2013, Dan was forced to stop performing with Nazareth due to serious health problems, including chronic lung disease. For someone who has been on stage for over forty years, it was a tough decision. But he didn't stop making music. In 2019, he released his solo album Last Testament.

In the title itself, “The Last Testament,” one hears something particularly poignant. A premonition. On November 8, 2022, Dan McCafferty passed away. He was 76 years old. And he left in the status of an undoubted classic of world musical history.

One thing I’ve learned over the years with musicians is that world fame and human greatness don’t always coincide. Dan McCafferty had a match. He was an amazing artist and an amazingly bright person. I am very happy that life has given us so many wonderful moments of communication.