The former lead singer of a popular Scottish rock band has responded to being replaced after a decade with the group.

Carl Sentance has spoken out after Nazareth replaced him with new lead singer Gianni Pontillo.

“I want to thank every single one of you for supporting me over nearly 11 years,” Sentance said in a video message on Facebook Tuesday. “Eleven years — can you believe it? It’s crazy. Time flies, but now it’s time to move on.”

Sentance, 64, said he’s going on a solo tour in January and then will be touring with his new group, Lords of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal), featuring members of Praying Mantis, Diamond Head, Raven, Tank and Persian Risk. Sentance released a solo album last year and was previously the frontman for Persian Risk and the Geezer Butler Band.

“2026 is gonna rock, guys, for me. It’s gonna be wonderful,” Sentance said in the video. “We start off in Japan, Tokyo, with the Lords of New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Back to the roots. Yes. And the 22nd of January, 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.”

Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew said in a Facebook post Sunday, Dec. 21 that Sentance, who joined the group in 2015, “is no longer in the band,” while introducing Portillo as his successor.

“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,” the post reads. “Next year is going to be one of the busiest in Nazareth’s history so there is a good chance to see the new line up and we can’t wait to introduce you to this man’s amazing talent.”

Agnew and Sentance did not give any further explanation for the lineup change to Nazareth. The Scottish group last performed with Sentance on Dec. 17 in Berlin, Germany, and plan to continue touring next year with Pontillo as the band’s lead singer. Pontillo appears to be a seasoned performer. According to Louder Sound, he was the lead singer of the German heavy metal band, Victory and also worked with Pure Inc., The Order Souls Revival and Pontillo & The Vintage Crew.

The lineup change comes days after Nazareth concluded their Bending the Rules tour in Berlin, Germany. While the band prepares for a new era, Sentance appears to be moving quickly with U.S. tour dates already posted for 2026.

Nazareth was founded in December 1968 in Scotland by Agnew, guitarist Manny Charlton, drummer Darrell Sweet and Dan McCafferty, WPDH reported. Sentance joined Nazareth in 2015 after McCafferty retired.

The band’s most recent albums are 2018’s “Tattooed on My Brain” and 2022’s “Surviving the Law,” both of which became Top 10 hits on the UK rock charts, WPDH wrote. Their best-selling U.S. album was their 1975 platinum-certified Top 20 hit “Hair of the Dog.”