Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand

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Biography

Franz Ferdinand (formed 2002) are a Scottish indie pop band from Glasgow, named after Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, and known for their acclaimed second single, 'Take Me Out'

Formation: Alex Kapranos and Paul Thomson were originally members of a band named Yummy Fur in the 1990s. Kapranos' friend, Bob Hardy, was taking bass lessons from Kapranos, and Nick McCarthy had recently returned to Scotland after studying jazz bass in Germany. The four joined together as Franz Ferdinand in 2002, after The Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand. They chose the name because of the alliteration, and because the death of Ferdinand was one of the key factors in starting the First World War. Franz Ferdinand signed to Domino Records in 2003. 

Career: Franz Ferdinand released their self-titled debut studio album on 9th February 2004. The album received tremendous critical praise and brought the singles 'Take Me Out', 'Michael' and 'This Fire' - all of which were well received. The album won the Mercury Music Prize, an Ivor Novello award and two BRIT awards. Franz Ferdinand performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards alongside Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas and Maroon 5.

On 3rd October 2005, Franz Ferdinand released their second studio album, 'You Could Have It So Much Better'. Again, the album received tremendous critical praise, and was the band's first chart-topping album, reaching the top spot in the UK charts. On 19th January 2009, Franz Ferdinand released the first single from their third studio album. The song 'Ulysses' appeared as the first track on 'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand' when it was released on 26th January 2009. The album received mixed to moderate reviews, debuting at number two in the UK charts and number nine on Billboard's 200 list.

Franz Ferdinand began work on their fourth studio album in February 2010. 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action' was released on 26th August 2013. Despite rave reviews from critics, the album failed to chart higher than number six in the UK charts and number twenty four on Billboard's 200. 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action' was released on 26th August 2013. Despite rave reviews from critics, the album failed to chart higher than number six in the UK charts and number twenty four on Billboard's 200.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

SAY Award Nominations: Scotland's Answer To The Mercury Prize Have Longlisted Franz Ferdinand And Young Fathers


Franz Ferdinand Young Fathers Mogwai

The Mercury Prize might be the main indie music accolade everyone's talking about, but if you're in Scotland you'll be more interested to hear this year's nominations for the Scottish Album of the Year. The ceremony takes place next month, and in that time the long-list will be whittled down to nine.

Franz Ferdinand at The Biggest WeekendFranz Ferdinand at The Biggest Weekend

Like the Mercury Prize, the SAY Award includes a monetary prize which this year stands at £20,000, while the 9 runners-up get £1,000 each. There are 20 artists on the long-list, with the stand-out nominees including Franz Ferdinand with their sixth studio album 'Always Ascending', former Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers with their Ninja Tune outing 'Cocoa Sugar' and, of course, Glasgow's Mogwai with their release from last year 'Every Country's Sun'.

Continue reading: SAY Award Nominations: Scotland's Answer To The Mercury Prize Have Longlisted Franz Ferdinand And Young Fathers

Charlie Puth, Vampire Weekend, Iggy Azalea And More - Five Huge Albums Set For 2018


Iggy Azalea Kanye West Franz Ferdinand Vampire Weekend

We preview some of the prospective albums by major artists who are due to release a new record in 2018.

Charlie PuthCharlie Puth looks set to dominate again

Charlie Puth

Continue reading: Charlie Puth, Vampire Weekend, Iggy Azalea And More - Five Huge Albums Set For 2018

The Killers Revealed As Third Headliner For TRNSMT Festival 2018


The Killers Franz Ferdinand T In The Park

The Killers have been revealed as the third and final headliner for next year’s TRNSMT festival in Glasgow.

The American rock act, returning after a five-year absence with a new album earlier in 2017, will close out Scotland’s largest musical festival on Sunday July 8th, 2018.

TRNSMT’s organisers DF Concerts also confirmed that Scottish art-rock heroes Franz Ferdinand and alt-pop act Chvrches have been added to the bill for the Sunday night. The other headliners for the three-day event are former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and rock veterans Stereophonics.

Continue reading: The Killers Revealed As Third Headliner For TRNSMT Festival 2018

Franz Ferdinand Announce New Album 'Always Ascending'


Franz Ferdinand

Popular noughties art-rockers Franz Ferdinand have announced details of their first studio album in nearly five years, along with a UK tour for 2018.

Having lost a member last year but adding guitarist Dino Bardot and keyboardist Julian Corrie for this year’s North American tour, fans of the Scottish band have been eagerly awaiting news about their fifth album.

On Tuesday, the band announced details of Always Ascending, and shared an official audio video of the title track and lead single. The album, produced by Philippe Zdar of French house act Cassius, will be released on February 9th 2018 via Domino Records.

Continue reading: Franz Ferdinand Announce New Album 'Always Ascending'

FFS (Franz Ferdinand , Sparks) - FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) headline at Barrowlands in Glasgow at Barrowlands - Glasgow, United Kingdom - Wednesday 26th August 2015

Franz Ferdinand and Sparks

Franz Ferdinand And Sparks Announce Details Of Collaboration Album And Tour


Franz Ferdinand

In one of the most intriguing musical collaborations of the year, indie stars Franz Ferdinand are to team up with new wave legends Sparks for a joint album to be released in the summer. Rumours have been abounding for the last month, but today the bands announced some details about their new project.

Working under the name ‘FFS’, their album will be self-titled and will be released via Domino Records on June 8th. They also shared an audio clip of their first single ‘P*** Off’, which will also be the closing track on the album.

Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (above) have gotten together with Sparks to make a collaboration album 'FFS'

Continue reading: Franz Ferdinand And Sparks Announce Details Of Collaboration Album And Tour

Franz Ferdinand Announces Autumn South America 2014 Tour Dates

Posted on15 August 2014

Franz Ferdinand Announces Autumn South America 2014 Tour Dates

A Week In Music, Kanye West Releases 'Black Skinhead' Video, Dawes Talk New Album And Bob Dylan And Mercury And Jackson Duets Are To Be Unveiled


Kanye West Kavinsky Frank Turner Franz Ferdinand Ghostpoet Dawes Disclosure Letlive Freddie Mercury Michael Jackson Taylor Swift Carly Simon Sub Focus

Kanye West Black Skinhead Artwork

A week in music videos... Kanye West has been doing a lot of promotion for his edgy, rock-infused track 'Black Skinhead' (or 'BLKKK SKKKN HEAD' as it's otherwise known'), the lead single from his US and UK number one album 'Yeezus', so his anger when the unfinished video directed by Nick Knight was leaked earlier in July was unsurprising. He described the unauthorised distribution as 'heartbreaking' and no wonder; a video as unique as this was definitely worthy of a grand entrance but, nonetheless, the spoiler has definitely not affected the viewing experience.Watch the video for BLKKK SKKKN HEAD here.

French house star Kavinsky has already become a hit in his home nation with his debut album 'OutRun', released earlier this year, reaching number 2 in the charts and he's certainly turning heads overseas too. Teaming up with Canadian producer The Weeknd on one of his newest singles, Kavinsky delivers a driving dance beat with 'Odd Look' - the single from his new EP of the same name. The track also features on his album as a collaboration with fellow electronic musician SebastiAn. Listen to Odd Look here.

Continue reading: A Week In Music, Kanye West Releases 'Black Skinhead' Video, Dawes Talk New Album And Bob Dylan And Mercury And Jackson Duets Are To Be Unveiled

Song Reader: Beck Plays Album Of Sheet Music At London's Barbican


Beck Jarvis Cocker Franz Ferdinand John Cooper Clarke The Staves Beth Orton Thurston Moore

It is perhaps Beck's strangest album. Song Reader - the record made up entirely of sheet music - was played in full at London's Barbican Theatre on Sunday (July 7, 2013), with a huge cast of musicians including Jarvis Cocker, Franz Ferdinand and Beth Orton. This potentially had disaster written all over it, though reviews suggest the album was perfectly  realised in the historic setting.

Song Reader contains twenty new songs, all publishing on song sheets. The tracks are scored for keys, guitar and voice though Beck's intention was for fans to elaborate and change the songs to their liking. As noted by the Financial Times' Ludovic Hunter-Tilney in his review, songwriter Ed Harcourt was given that job on the piano. He was accompanied by flugelhorns, ukuleles, drums and guitars.  The veteran punk poet John Cooper Clarke read prose between songs while female vocal trio The Staves helped out on vocals.

David Smyth of the Evening Standard suggested the concert will have encouraged fans to have a go themselves, writing, "The songs Beck performed himself sounded the most predictable, with acoustic guitar to the fore, though a jazzy, catchy Do We, We Do would have stood out regardless of the singer. For those buying the book in the lobby, it was a case of do try this at home."

Continue reading: Song Reader: Beck Plays Album Of Sheet Music At London's Barbican

Beck Summons An Army To Help Him Turn 'Song Reader' Into Music


Beck Franz Ferdinand Jarvis Cocker The Mighty Boosh John Cooper Clarke Beth Orton Charlotte Gainsbourg Guillemots Noel Fielding Julian Barratt

Depending on the way you look at it, Beck's decision to release his last album in the form of sheet music was either incredibly innovative or unforgivably pretentious. Released in December 2012, Song Reader comprised of twenty songs in sheet music form as well as over one hundred pages of art. The idea behind the unusual decision was to let the fan become the composer, with many interpretations quickly surfacing online showing the versatility of the pieces.

Beck
Prolific Experimentalist Beck Invited A Host Of Artists To Help Him Perform Song Reader live.

This was all very well if you're a Beck fan with some degree of musical talent but for those hungering for the white rap of Odelay, the pop experimentation of Midnite Vultures or the sweet melancholy of Sea Change were left feeling a little bemused and perhaps even cheated.

Continue reading: Beck Summons An Army To Help Him Turn 'Song Reader' Into Music

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