Dan McCafferty Dead: Axl Rose Says Nazareth Member's Passing Is 'Tough Pill To Swallow'

Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose remembered the late Nazareth frontman, Dan McCafferty, in the most heartfelt way.

The music industry lost one of the most influential singers when McCafferty died earlier this month. The late singer was 76.

While fans and colleagues already paid tribute to McCafferty, Rose took days before he was able to break his silence regarding his passing.

On Twitter, the frontman shared a screenshot of a lengthy note following the band's performance in Perth. He thanked the fans who came to see them despite the cold rain.

Rose also thanked fans from Asian countries who made Guns N' Roses' Asian 2022 tour a massive success, especially Singapore, Japan, and Thailand.

In the latter part of his statement, he took his time to remember McCafferty and why the news has been a tough pill to swallow for him.

"Very, very sad to learn of the passing of Dan McCafferty of Nazareth. I learned a day or so after, right before a show. Was in a bit of a surreal headspace on stage for several songs. Went on a Nazareth binge for a few days. Thanks Dan n' all of Nazareth for all the music over the years," he said.

Rose ended his statement by saying that McCafferty's voice would always be part of him.

The Guns N' Roses singer has been open about McCafferty and Nazareth's influence on his singing. In fact, he famously performed the band's hit songs.

Rose also invited the late singer to sing "Love Hurts" by Boudleaux Bryant during his wedding to Erin, Don Everly's daughter, but McCafferty declined.

Guns N' Roses, still covered Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" as part of its "The Spaghetti Incident?" in 1993.

What Happened to Dan McCafferty?

Multiple news outlets, including NBC News, quoted the post Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew shared on the band's official Facebook page.

He revealed that he lost his best friend after McCafferty's passing.

The statement did not disclose his cause of death, but The Guardian noted that he suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COPD refers to a group of diseases that lead to an airflow blockage, causing breathing-related issues. There is reportedly no cure for them, but they can be treated.

McCafferty served as the founding member of Nazareth, launching the band in 1968.

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Axl Rose