Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand is a musical band from Glasgow, Scotland.

Franz Ferdinand has enjoyed worldwide success and acclaim as a Scottish rock band since 2001. The band consists of four members, Alex Kapranos on guitar and vocals, Bob Hardy on bass, Paul Thomson on percussion and Nick McCarthy on rhythm guitar.

Although Franz Ferdinand was formed in 2001, the members of the band have played together in various capacities and bands previously. These efforts included bands like The Karelia, Yummy Fur, 10p Invaders and Embryo. The band was signed in the May of 2003, and their self-titled album was released later that year. It released to a forty third spot on the UK album chart. After heavy touring and both UK and US promotion, the band’s efforts became a picture of success, garnering them a number of awards in the process.

The second album from Franz Ferdinand, “You could have it so much better” was released on the 3rd of October, 2005. This garnered a much warmer welcome, reaching a number one on the UK sales charts and number eight on their US equivalent.

Franz Ferdinand drew inspiration from their name from Archduke Franz Ferdinand. While some members like to say that the alliteration in the name was athe aspect which drew their focus, others like Paul Thomson say that they like the idea that if the band were to become popular enough, the name Franz Ferdinand would not conjure up images of the historical figure, but instead the band.