PsychoSy, Glad you added the other pictures, much better. He does seem like a real happy person. I have no clue on the band Nazarath, I guess I can "google", do they still tour together or is he on his own? I'll have to look up what songs they sing.
The work ethic of Nazareth is just like JY -- they won't be done until the EMTs scrape 'em off the stage. They love what they do. Nazareth has always been a very very underated band that meshed blues, metal, punk, and rock all into their own sound but if it wasn't for their covers of other peoples songs, we'd never know of these lads from Dumferline, Ireland. In the 70s, they were mostly a covers band and it was one of their covers that brought them attention in the US -- the Everly Brothers' "Love Hurts". Other covers got them more attention over the years such as Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" (who upon hearing it said, "I might've wrote it, but it's Nazareth song now!") and even raise eyebrows such as a raggae cover of Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" and a very pop/new wave sounding cover of The Stone's "Ruby Tuesday".
But they needed some original material to justify adding "Love Hurts" to an album. In 1975, one of their "mediocre originals" for the album caused controversy. Nazareth wanted to call the name of their forthcoming album "Son Of A Bitch" to co-incide with the title track of the same name. The record companies said, "Eh, No! Change the name of both". Nazareth, always full of the trademark Scottish humor, decided upon "Heir Of The Dog" because it meant the same thing -- a male puppy is a son of a bitch, sort of speak. Alas the record companies said, "Change the spelling of 'Heir' to "Hair' and we'll green light it." The track and album then became "Hair of The Dog" and exploded on American rock stations after "Love Hurts" ran its course, lighting up request lines as male listeners personally identitified with the lyrics:
Heart breaker, soul shaker
I’ve been told about you,
Steamroller, midnight stroller
What they’ve been saying must be true
Red hot mama
Velvet charmer
Time’s come to pay your dues
Now you’re messin’ with a ...
(A son of a bitch!)
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch!
Now you’re messin’ with a ....
(A son of a bitch!)
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch!
The album was a huge seller -- the largest of selling album of their entire discography. The controversy over this hit song caused problem when touring because of the language. In one instance, a female leader of a South American country personally told Nazareth before their gig, "You will not be closing your show with that!" Nazareth agreed. They promised not to close the concert with it.
Instead, they opened with it!
They also had decent songs in the 80s. Not huge hits like "Hair" and "Love Hurts" but good songs that got some airplay like "Dream On", "Games", and "Love Leads To Madness" off their 2XS album. Alas, the end of the 80s saw the start of the grudge scene and founding guitarist Manny Charlton left the band due to creative differences. Nazareth forged on even though, like Styx, airplay on radio here in America became scarce (hell, next to nil) despite decent songs such as "Move Me", "Steamroller", and "May Heaven Keep You". American radio passed on Nazareth until 1998 when they re-recorded "Love Hurts" this time sporting an full-blown orchestra. Didn't become a hit again but got some well needed spins on Classic Rock stations and let fans know that they're still out there.
Nazareth is an acquired taste as their music isn't for everyone but their hits sure spawned imitations of their sound such as Guns N Roses and Jackyl so if you like GNR or Jackyl, you'll like Naz!
JESUS!
