Jared DuBach
Daily Egyptian
Love won't hurt as bad when one of the heaviest, most radio-requested bands of the '70s comes to Southern Illinois for an Independence Day bash.
The Scottish hard rock band Nazareth will be playing at Shawnee Saltpetre Cave on July 4. The hard rock legends will be joined by special guests Drivin' Rain, Sinical and Joyride. Other opening acts are still being finalized.
Nazareth came together in 1968 in Scotland by members Dan McCafferty (vocals), Manny Charlton (guitar), Pete Agnew (bass) and Darrell Sweet (drums). The band was named after the lyrics "I pulled into Nazareth feelin' 'bout half past dead" from the song "The Weight" by popular '60s folk rockers, "The Band."
Even though "Nazareth" has produced 26 original albums from in 1971 to "Boogaloo" in 1999, the band is best known for its 1975 hit alum, "Hair of the Dog." The album features the two better-known Nazareth hits "Hair of the Dog" and "Love Hurts."
In a 1999 interview with Blistering.com, McCafferty said he saw the hard rock musical landscape change through the T-shirts of Nazareth concertgoers. From his vantage point on-stage, McCafferty watched hard rock evolve from one show to the next.
"It used to be Led Zeppelin and then it became somebody else, and then it became somebody else, and somebody else, and then it became Guns 'n' Roses; then whoever else is around at the time."
Despite Nazareth's steady decline in popularity, the members of the band decided to continue onward. Nazareth went on to produce album after album of the only kind of music they knew: raunchy. After a brief hiatus in the mid-1980s, the band returned to touring in 1992.
The billing of the show boasts all the original members, according to the band's press release. However, original drummer Darrell Sweet is no longer with the band due to his death from a heart attack in 1999. Pete Agnew's son, Lee, is now drumming for Nazareth.
A limited number of tickets for this rare event are available, and can be purchased at Old Town Liquors and CD Warehouse in Carbondale, D & S Music in Herrin, The Music Shop in Benton, Appletree Inn in Murphysboro, Cowabunga Music in Anna and Puff 'n' Stuff in Paducah.
Shawnee Saltpetre Cave is located seven miles south of Murphysboro on Route 127. The camping area will be open at 2 p.m., Wednesday, for those wishing to camp the day before. The gates to the actual concert will not open until 2 p.m., Thursday, July 4. Concertgoers are allowed to bring camping equipment, coolers and lawn chairs. However, no glass bottles, kegs, pets or fireworks are allowed on the grounds.
Concert promoter and organizer, Jeff Armintrout, said the natural acoustics of Shawnee Saltpetre Cave are unmatched.
"The acoustics are superb for any natural outdoor amphitheater," Armintrout says.
Reporter Jared DuBach can be reached at jdubach@dailyegyptian.com.
Nazareth performs Thursday, July 4, at Shawnee Saltpetre Cave. Tickets are $18.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
