Scottish hard rockers Nazareth dominated the airwaves in the late ’70s with the biting rock anthem “Hair of the Dog” and the enduring proto-power ballad “Love Hurts.” Emerging in 1971, the band found mainstream success in 1975 with the release of their platinum-selling fifth album, Hair of the Dog. Despite numerous lineup changes, the group remained prolific and popular in Europe throughout the ’80s and ’90s, and continued to tour and record into the 2000s, with bassist and co-founder Pete Agnew serving as the sole constant member. In 2018, Nazareth celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the release of Tattooed on My Brain. Surviving the Law, the band’s 25th studio album, appeared in 2022.
Formed in Dunfermline in 1968, Nazareth’s initial lineup featured vocalist Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet. The band had relocated to London by 1970, and they released their self-titled debut album in 1971. Both Nazareth and 1972’s Exercises received favorable attention by British hard rockers, but it was 1973’s Razamanaz that moved them into the U.K. Top Ten (both “Broken Down Angel” and “Bad Bad Boy” were hit singles). Loud ‘n’ Proud and Rampant (both 1974) followed the same formula, yet were slightly less successful. Released the following year, Hair of the Dog established Nazareth as an internationally popular hard rock band.