NAZARETH have cancelled a tour of Canada after singer Dan McCafferty collapsed on stage after half a song on Tuesday, it’s been confirmed.

The veteran outfit had started their show in Cranbrook, Canada, 90 minutes late after McCafferty had complained of breathing problems.

But just 30 seconds into the show he fell to the ground, and the concert was immediately called off. Now the remaining dates have also been cancelled.

Cranbook promoters HM Productions said this week: “We want to apologise to everybody who came out to support us. You can get your money back.

“We’ve got to remember we’re talking about a person here. Number one is his safety.”

They said of the 66-year-old’s condition: “He is stable. We’re not sure what’s going on with the rest of the tour.”

Century Casino, Edmonton, where the Scottish band were due to perform three shows, last night reported: “We are sad to announce that unfortunately Nazareth has had to cancel the remainder of their tour. These shows will not be rescheduled.”

NAZARETH recently completed work on a new album and are due to headline this year’s Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales on November 29, along with five other UK shows. The tour was put together after a previous set of dates had to be called off when McCafferty contracted a chest infection while working in Brazil.

Bassist Pete Agnew was recently forced to make a statement denying the band were splitting after a promoter generated the rumour to sell more tickets.

Agnew recently told the Times Colonist how he and McCafferty ask each other on July 1 every year if they want to keep the band going for another 12 months.

It’s been a tradition since they went professional 42 years ago and their daytime employers kept their positions open for them.

“They kept thinking we’d be coming back,” said the bassist. “They were thinking, ‘Give them a year to have some fun, blow off some steam.’ And we thought the same thing.”