Rock Singer Carl Sentance Announces Departure from Nazareth

Carl Sentance, the former lead vocalist of the rock band Nazareth, has publicly addressed his departure from the group after nearly 11 years. On Sunday, bassist Pete Agnew announced that Sentance and the band had reached “a parting of the ways,” leading to the appointment of Gianni Pontillo as the new lead singer. Sentance had been with Nazareth since 2015 and had not commented on the split until this week.

In a video message shared on Facebook, Sentance expressed his gratitude to fans for their support during his tenure. “Hey, guys. Merry Christmas to you all. You’ve probably already heard about my departure from Nazareth. I wanna thank every single one of you for supporting me over nearly 11 years. 11 years — can you believe it? It’s crazy. Time flies, but now it’s time to move on,” he stated.

The 64-year-old singer revealed plans for a solo tour starting in January, followed by performances with his new band, Lords of NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal), which features members from renowned groups such as Praying Mantis, Diamond Head, Raven, Tank, and Persian Risk. Sentance released a solo album last year and previously led the bands Persian Risk and the Geezer Butler Band.

“2026 is gonna rock, guys, for me. It’s gonna be wonderful,” Sentance noted enthusiastically. “We start off in Tokyo, Japan, with the Lords of New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Back to the roots. Yes. And on January 22, I start my solo tour again… It’s gonna rock, guys. Come and rock with us. 2026. Happy New Year. We’ll see you then.”

While Agnew and Sentance did not provide further details regarding the reason for the lineup change, the Scottish band performed its last concert with Sentance on December 17 in Berlin, Germany. Nazareth plans to continue touring in 2026 with Pontillo as the lead singer. Agnew expressed confidence in the new lineup, stating, “Those who have seen and heard Gianni will already know what an incredible voice he has, and those of you who haven’t are in for a wonderful surprise when you come to see us in 2026.”

Pontillo, who joined Nazareth after serving as the lead singer of the German hard rock band Victory since 2019, has also been involved with various other musical projects. Agnew co-founded Nazareth in 1968, a band best known for its hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including “Love Hurts,” “Hair of the Dog,” and “This Flight Tonight.”

Despite the changes in the lineup, Nazareth continues to produce new music, with their most recent album, Surviving the Law, released in 2022 while Sentance was still with the band. The upcoming tour dates for Nazareth, which were initially billed as a “farewell” tour, include two concerts in the United States: May 2 at Family Arena in Saint Charles, Missouri, and May 8 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minnesota. Both performances will feature Foghat, promising a lively experience for fans.

With a busy year ahead, Nazareth and its new lead singer aim to captivate audiences worldwide while Sentance embarks on his own musical journey.