http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/

2004 looks promising for Franz Ferdinand, and their debut album is already causing a sensation – a dancing sensation. Yes, these Scottish art school graduates want you to move to their music. And believe it or not, they can even make me move, which historically speaking has never been done.

The band comes from Glasgow, Scotland, where the four met. Lead vocalist/guitarist Alex Kapranos first met German immigrant Nick McCarthy when he tried to steal his bottle of vodka. The two fought, but Alex eventually stopped long enough to ask Nick, known for his eccentric fashion sense and dressed as Adam Ant at the time, if he could play drums. He said he could, but it soon became apparent that drums were not his talent--the guitar and organ were. Nick joined the band along with bassist Bob Hardy and genuine drummer Paul Thomson. The band was named Franz Ferdinand because, well, they simply liked the way it sounded with the alliteration and all.

Franz Ferdinand soon put together a set of four songs and had their first show in a girl’s bedroom. Yes, in a girl’s bedroom where an art exhibition by Girl Art was being held. Franz Ferdinand was invited to play because Girl Art knew about the band’s quest of making artful dance music. The band played their four songs repeatedly until the crowd was too tired to dance anymore. At this point, Franz Ferdinand knew they had succeeded.

Over the next two years, they turned old buildings into venues for musicians and artists, and nicknamed each The Chateau. The band had to move the Chateau several times after each building was busted by the police. However, the original Chateau is still used for exhibitions by a group of artists thus proving Franz Ferdinand’s lasting influence on Glasgow’s art and music scene. Eventually Franz Ferdinand’s dance music hit the ears of Laurence Bell, the owner of the Domino Records label. The band happily agreed to sign on because they knew the independent label would give them complete musical freedom. Their debut, self-titled album is already spawning large dance parties in the UK and will move the States on March 9, 2004.

-Caroline Heller
03.08.2004