Franz Ferdinand Artistfacts

2002-
Alex KapranosVocals, guitar2002-
Bob HardyBass2002-
Nick McCarthyGuitar2002-2016
Paul ThomsonDrums, percussion2002-2021
Dino BardotGuitar2017-
Julian CorrieKeyboards2017-
Audrey TaitDrums, percussion2021-
Franz Ferdinand formed in Glasgow and signed to an independent label called Domino Records. They made an immediate impact in 2004 with their self-titled debut album, which includes the hit "Take Me Out." They kept the same lineup until 2016, when Nick McCarthy left the band.
The band has covered songs by various artists including LCD Soundsystem, The Beatles, Pulp, Britney Spears, David Bowie, and Blondie. Their songs have also been remixed by various well known electronic artists like Daft Punk, Hot Chip, Justice, The Avalanches, Microfilm and Erol Alkan.
The B-side to the "Take Me Out" single is a song called "All For You, Sophia." In keeping with their fascination with Archduke Franz Ferdinand, for whom the band is named, "All For You, Sophia," contains references to historical figures associated with the assassination of the figure like assassin Gavrilo Princip, the Black Hands, which was the secret society who claimed responsibility for the assassination and the driver of the car that Ferdinand was riding in when he was assassinated.
The members of the band all have different ideas about the name, Franz Ferdinand.

Bob Hardy: "Mainly we just liked the way it sounded. We liked the alliteration."

Alex Kapranos: "He was an incredible figure as well. His life, or at least the ending of it, was the catalyst for the complete transformation of the world and that is what we want our music to be. But I don't want to over-intellectualize the name thing. Basically a name should just sound good ... like music."

Paul Thomspon: "I like the idea that, if we become popular, maybe the words Franz Ferdinand will make people think of the band instead of the historical figure."
Franz Ferdinand's videos and album covers are all inspired by Russian avant-garde art and the art movement of Dada. The video for "Take Me Out," was inspired by Dada artist Max Ernst's graphic novel Une Semaine de Bonte, as well as the choreography of Busby Berkely and Russian constructivist design.
The band's debut album, Franz Ferdinand, got great praise from the critics at NME, getting a 9 out of 10 rating and lumping the band into prestigious company, comparing them to bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Duran Duran, Travis and Blur.
Years before social media, they documented their lives with a webcam and would often post clips on their website to keep fans appraised of their activities.
To coincide with Record Store day in 2009, the band released Blood, an album comprised wholly of dub versions of songs from their third album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.
Alex Kapranos often spots his parents watching from the mixing desk area at shows. He described to STV's Laura Boyd how seeing his dad rhythmically nodding to the music reminds him of being a child in a school nativity play, humorously noting how it breaks through any "rock star aura" he might have. His dad's enthusiasm for the band extends to reading every article about them... and quoting them back to Alex.

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