CD Reviews and Music: FRANZ AND ENEMIES; FRANZ FERDINAND ARE THE HOTTEST NEW ACT AROUND, BUT IT ALL STARTED WITH A FIGHT.Byline: Gavin Martin In 18 whirlwind months, Franz Ferdinand's short, sharp, sexy songs and exuberant live shows have turned them into the hottest and most exciting band in the country. The group - named after the Archduke arch·duke n. 1. In certain royal families, especially that of imperial Austria, a nobleman having a rank equivalent to that of a sovereign prince. 2. Used as a title for such a nobleman. whose assassination Assassination See also Murder. assassins Fanatical Moslem sect that smoked hashish and murdered Crusaders (11th—12th centuries). [Islamic Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 52] Brutus conspirator and assassin of Julius Caesar. [Br. in 1914 sparked the First World War - formed in Glasgow after frontman front·man n. 1. also front man A man who serves as a nominal leader but who lacks real authority. 2. Music A leading singer with a group. Alex Kapranos got into a fight with guitarist Nick McCarthy at a party. "It's almost embarrassing to remember," says Alex. "It was a scrum like schoolkids get into. I put the bottle of vodka down and, when I looked round, there was this funny looking German guy at the other side of the room with it. We started having a fight but almost instantly became friends. We started talking about what we liked and within minutes we'd agreed to meet up and play music together." Just turned 29, Alex says that he, Nick, drummer Paul Thomson and bassist Bob Hardy have all been in bands before. "The difference this time is the chemistry," admits Alex. "Our combination of personalities just works really well together. I've been a van driver, a chef and a barman, and I've taught asylum seekers English. Like most people I've had jobs that I loved and I hated. "Bob and I used to work in a restaurant in Glasgow and I loved it - the intensity and excitement of a kitchen are similar to being in a band. The hours are anti-social, but it's rewarding and a lot of fun." Franz Ferdinand's irresistible blend of dance-friendly rock and witty thought-provoking lyrics has seen them sell 300,000 copies of their debut album in the UK. But FF fanaticism is spreading like wildfire across the globe. "We've gone thousands of miles only to find people know the words of the songs," beams Alex. "They sing along and dance like crazy. It's very exciting. We played a gig in Los Angeles and there was a voice shouting that they wanted to have sex with us and the same thing happened the next night from the same voice. That was pretty weird, but none of us found out who it was coming from. People make their own banners. In Belgium there were two girls with the Archduke Ferdinand's head and a Highland Games contender's body in a kilt kilt Knee-length, skirtlike garment worn by men as part of the traditional national garb, or Highland dress, of Scotland. It is made of permanently pleated wool and wrapped around the wearer's waist so that the pleats are in the back and the flat ends overlap in front. playing a guitar. "We do get a lot of girls hanging about and it's nice to have people interested in the band, but we're not interested in the groupie thing." Although Nick, a former car thief, was brought up in Germany and Alex was born in Gloucester, the group call Glasgow their home and consider the city and its musical heritage a major inspiration. "Like any city it's the people that give it its character," says Alex. "Glaswegians aren't afraid to follow their ambitions or have a go at anything, but at the same time there's a total intolerance of bullshit. "We also have a great affinity with Orange Juice, The Fire Engines and Josef K from the early '80s Glasgow scene. They wanted to say something in their lyrics, but it didn't mean you couldn't make people dance. That's something we feel is very important. "Whatever you want to do, you have to make people want to get up and enjoy themselves too. I can't stand it when you see bands and it looks like they've had to drag themselves up to get onstage. If you don't want to be there, get off the bloody stage." Despite the fight with Nick that led to the formation of the band, Franz Ferdinand are too cool to get into a scraps with their rivals. "I hate bands baiting other bands and I actually like The Darkness," admits Alex. "I have no problems with any group. If I had, I wouldn't settle them physically." Known for his snappy dress sense, Alex is actually a needlework needlework, work done with a needle, either plain sewing, mending, or ornamental work such as embroidery, quilting, smocking, hemstitching, fagoting, some kinds of lace making (see lace), patchwork, and appliqué. expert who finds a lot of his songwriting inspiration while doing domestic chores. With fame, fortune and freebies at their door, Franz Ferdinand have no need to fight over bottles of vodka. But one thing Alex never wants to see on the dressing room rider is a peanut. "If I eat them I throw up everywhere," he says glumly glum adj. glum·mer, glum·mest 1. Moody and melancholy; dejected. 2. Gloomy; dismal. n. 1. . "I went for a curry on tour in Newcastle and tasted Nick's meal. There was a little bit of peanut in it and I was throwing up everywhere. Imagine The Exorcist ex·or·cism n. 1. The act, practice, or ceremony of exorcising. 2. A formula used in exorcising. ex  or·cist n. , but even worse."
Franz Ferdinand is coming your way, better watch out. l Monday/Tuesday: Queen Margaret Union
CAPTION(S): TAKING ON THE WORLD: (L-R) Bob, Alex, Paul and Nick |
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