FRANZ FERDINAND - ALWAYS ASCENDING

Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The original lineup consisted of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Nick McCarthy (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Bob Hardy (bass), and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion, backing vocals). Julian Corrie (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and Dino Bardot (guitar, backing vocals) joined in 2017 after McCarthy left in 2016, and Audrey Tait (drums, percussion) joined after Thomson left in 2021. The band has been associated with the post-punk revival movement and achieved several UK top 20 singles in the 2000s. They have received multiple award nominations, including Grammy nominations, and have won two Brit Awards as well as one NME Award. The band’s debut single, "Darts of Pleasure", released in 2003, reached number 44 on the UK Singles Chart. Their second single, "Take Me Out", released later that year, reached number three in the UK and became one of their most recognized songs. It charted in multiple countries and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Their debut album "Franz Ferdinand" was released in 2004, won the Mercury Prize that year, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album. In 2005, they released their second studio album, "You Could Have It So Much Better", produced by Rich Costey. It reached the top ten in several countries and received Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Album and for the single "Do You Want To". Their third album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand", was released in 2009 and showed a shift toward a more dance-oriented sound. A remix album of that release, titled "Blood", was released later that year. In 2013, the band released their fourth studio album, "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action". In 2015, Franz Ferdinand collaborated with the American band Sparks to form the supergroup FFS, releasing the album "FFS" and touring in Europe. Following lineup changes, including McCarthy’s departure, the band released their fifth studio album "Always Ascending" in 2018. Thomson left the band in 2021 and was replaced by Audrey Tait. The sixth studio album, "The Human Fear", was released in 2025. Before forming the band, members played in various groups during the 1990s. Kapranos and Thomson met at a party and worked together in Yummy Fur before beginning to write music together. Kapranos also taught Bob Hardy to play bass. Nick McCarthy joined after returning to Scotland from studying jazz bass in Germany. The band name Franz Ferdinand was chosen after discussions about historical references to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination contributed to the events leading to World War I. The members have stated that the name was selected partly for its sound and alliteration. After signing to Domino Recording Company in 2003, the band recorded their debut album in Sweden with producer Tore Johansson. Following the release of "Take Me Out", the album gained broader international attention, including in the United States, where it later sold over a million copies. The album received generally positive critical reception and several awards and nominations, including the Mercury Prize and MTV recognition for its music videos. Their second album "You Could Have It So Much Better" reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number eight in the United States. It was followed by multiple singles, including "Do You Want To", "Walk Away", "The Fallen", and "Eleanor Put Your Boots On". Their third album "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" included singles such as "Ulysses", "No You Girls", "Can't Stop Feeling", and "What She Came For". It charted in several countries and was followed by touring and festival appearances. The fourth album "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action" was preceded by live performances of new material and was released in 2013. In 2015, the band formed FFS with Sparks and released several singles from their collaborative album. In 2016, Nick McCarthy left the band’s touring and recording lineup. In 2017, Dino Bardot and Julian Corrie joined as new members. The album "Always Ascending" was released in 2018, with Corrie participating in recording and Bardot joining after sessions were completed. In 2021, Paul Thomson left the band and was replaced by Audrey Tait, who had already performed live with the group prior to the announcement. The band released new material including "Billy Goodbye", which appeared on the compilation "Hits to the Head" in 2022. In 2024, the band announced "The Human Fear", released Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Ferdinand_(band) Studio albums Franz Ferdinand (2004) You Could Have It So Much Better (2005) Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009) Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013) Always Ascending (2018) The Human Fear (2025) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.