Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty’s legacy remains etched into the very fabric of Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre in his home town.
McCafferty, who has died aged 76, co-founded Nazareth in 1968 and was known for his gruff vocals on songs like Love Hurts, Hair of the Dog and Miss Misery.
In the 1920s the Alhambra was where locals gathered to watch silent movies.
It went on to provide a platform for acts such as Harry Gordon, Andy Stewart, The Alexander Brothers, Jimmy Logan and the White Heather Group.
Nazareth were formed in the Fife town just three years after the Alhambra was turned into a bingo hall in 1965.
However, in 2006, Carlton Bingo moved into a new, purpose-built premises at the Fife Leisure Park in Halbeath and the beloved theatre was abandoned.
A public campaign was launched to raise £2m to restore the B-listed theatre to its former glory which was led by former Edinburgh Festival Fringe director Paul Gudgin.
Bill Fletcher of property firm Linklever purchased the building and architects and restoration experts started drawing up plans to bring the Alhambra back to its heyday.
Nazareth flew in from Brazil for Alhambra gig
To help raise funds for the historic venue’s restoration, Nazareth flew in from Brazil in June 2008 to became one of the first acts to play on the stage in over four decades.
At the time Gudgin said: “Nazareth will probably shake a bit of dust off the place but that’ll be no bad thing.
“This is the first in a whole series of events and gigs called Alhambra in the Raw.
“Obviously, because we’re renovating it, it’s by no means finished and is still in a raw state so this is part of a drive to raise funds.
“It’s fantastic to get support from a band like that for this project.
“It’s a sensational venue and it’s going to be an extraordinary night.”
Over 1,700 rock fans converged on the Alhambra to watch the local legends power through a packet set of songs including monster riffs and thoughtful ballads.
After flying in to play the Alhambra and Irvine’s Magnum Centre, they got back in the tour bus to visit Finland and Eastern Europe before finishing the tour in Norway.
The hard work of dedicated individuals paid off, modifications increased capacity to 2,100, and it became one of Fife’s most popular music venues and theatres.
2012 Alhambra return
Nazareth returned to the Alhambra stage to perform in January 2012 for a charity concert in aid of The Mary Leishman Foundation.
It was first visit back to the inspiring venue since they played the opening concert there in 2008 which lead singer McCafferty remembered fondly.
“It was a really great night,” he said.
“The venue is great, it’s done really well since it reopened.
“It’s been a proper theatre really, when we played the opening night we just thought it was great because we were local boys.
“It’s got an excellent stage and it’s a great place to play.”
McCafferty was a regular at the Alhambra when he was growing up in Dunfermline.
He said: “The Alhambra was turned into a bingo hall before being left to rot.
“I know myself the last time we did The Apollo in Glasgow, it would have cost too much to sort, the roof was needing replaced, we used to go into the dressing room and there were pigeons in there.
“I remember going to the Alhambra as a picture house when I was a laddie, then it was a bingo hall.
“We might have a bingo break on Saturday, just to bring back the memories.
“It’s great to have a nice big gig at home before we start off around the world again, it’s another busy year but I’m not complaining.
“We could be working seven nights a week but it’s lots of travelling. This year we’re going to do some British gigs which will be good.”
After a run of hit singles in the 1970s, Nazareth fell out of favour with the UK pop charts, but, despite not having a hit record for more than 30 years, they still attracted big crowds wherever they went.
Remembering how it all started
Speaking in 2012 he said the band still had the same enthusiasm they had back in 1972 when, driving down the motorway to a gig in Brighton, they heard their single on the radio for the first time.
“The biggest thing is you work away for years and don’t get anywhere and all of a sudden your record comes on the radio,” he said.
“It was Broken Down Angel and it was a big thrill for us.
“There was a bit of a buzz about it, the gig was sold out but we didn’t know just how big it would be.
“But after you get a hit single you’re chasing it all the time.
“Because you’ve done something that the public like then the record company wants another one straight away.
“Then Love Hurts was a big hit in Venezuela. How many records do you have to sell to have a hit record in Venezuela?
“I can understand Brazil or Argentina!”
McCafferty kept going for another 12 months before he retired from touring in 2013 after 45 years with the band due to the effects of COPD.
The last Nazareth album McCafferty was involved with was 2014’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Telephone and the band continued to tour under the leadership of Pete Agnew.
Agnew, the only original member of the band, broke the news of his dear friend’s passing on Tuesday as “the saddest announcement I ever had to make”.
He paid homage to one of Dunfermline’s favourite sons in a short message and said the world had lost “one of the greatest singers who ever lived”.
McCafferty’s voice will echo eternally through a treasure trove of Nazareth songs that will be cherished by generations of rock fans to come.
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