Franz Ferdinand (2026)

Personal information:

Full name: Alex Paul Kapranos Huntley
Height: 1.80m/5,9 ft tall
Day and place of birth: March 20th of 1972, on Almondsbury, UK
Age (in this story): 54

Physically: Slender, tall and lanky figure, completely gray/silver hair with some more pronounced receding lines his striking facial features are now accompanied by the natural lines of age. He usually sports a short beard, a few days' growth, combining gray and dark tones.

Psychologically: Cultured, thoughtful and good-humored. He has admitted that if he could speak to his past self, he would tell him to stop being so hard on himself and so obsessed with achieving absolute "artistic purity." Nowadays, he has learned to relax and not worry about technical minutiae that the audience doesn't even notice. Becoming a father later in life (alongside his wife, the French singer Clara Luciani) completely transformed his mindset. He describes the experience as "overwhelming" due to the intensity of the love he feels. Embracing the great responsibility of caring for another human being—after spending his entire adult life "being as irresponsible as possible"—has been incredibly refreshing for him. Instead of projecting the image of an invulnerable rock star, Kapranos admits to living with fears—of commitment, of aging, and of letting go. His current approach involves channeling those fears creatively and using them to connect more honestly with people, based on the idea that how we respond to fear defines our personality.

Likes: He is fascinated by Russian constructivism, an aesthetic movement that directly inspired the design of the covers of Franz Ferdinand's first albums. He has mentioned that he owes a great literary debt to the Soviet magical realism author Mikhail Bulgakov, and is a fervent admirer of the literature and art of the Scotsman Alasdair Gray. She loves to cook traditional dishes, one of her favorites being Greek Stifado (a stew with rabbit, baby onions and lots of cinnamon).

He has stated that one of his favorite things about living in Paris is being able to enjoy fresh bread every day or eat a Grand Marnier soufflé at his favorite bistro, Le Pantruche. He also enjoys traditional British breakfasts with haggis and well-fried mushrooms. One of his most curious and private pastimes is woodworking. He has his own workshop where he enjoys designing and building abstract wooden furniture with his own hands as a way to disconnect from music. He describes himself as obsessed with high-quality green tea, going so far as to joke that it is a healthy vice that "replaced heroin" in his life. He is extremely meticulous about its preparation, using a special kettle to heat the water to just below the boiling point so that the tea never turns bitter. He really enjoys cycling; in fact, he often uses a bike as his primary means of transport while on tour to go out, explore, and get a real feel for the atmosphere of the cities he visits. When he is in London, he loves cycling to the Columbia Road Flower Market. In the realm of sports, he is a loyal supporter of Sunderland A.F.C. in England, the city where he lived for a few years during his childhood.

Fun facts: Before making a living from music at the age of 32, Alex held a wide variety of jobs. He was an English teacher for refugees and immigrants in Glasgow, a welder, a food delivery driver, and even an ice cream truck driver. During a world tour, Alex decided to try fermented whale meat (a traditional dish called Hákarl) in Iceland. The food caused such severe poisoning that he nearly had to cancel several concerts—an experience he later recounted with humor in his book of culinary chronicles.

At a major festival, Alex woke up completely voiceless due to laryngitis. To save the show, a doctor administered a direct steroid injection into his vocal cords just minutes before he went on stage. He managed to sing the entire concert with an unusually deep voice, but was unable to speak for the following three days. To avoid the harassment and racism directed at Greek immigrants in 1980s England, his mother decided to register him at school under her maiden name, Huntley. Consequently, throughout his childhood and adolescence, his friends and teachers knew him as Alex Huntley, and he did not legally reclaim his real surname, Kapranos, until he was an adult. At birth, he suffered from a severe respiratory condition that nearly cost him his life. Doctors had to keep him in a special incubator during his first few weeks—an experience that, according to his mother, turned him into an extremely energetic child determined to "make the most of his time" from a very early age.

Style of clothes: Tailored suits, dark shirts, leather jackets and classic-cut trousers, keeping the post-punk revival chic.

His place: After marrying acclaimed French singer-songwriter Clara Luciani in 2023, the musician settled permanently in the French capital, where he shares an apartment in the 9th arrondissement with his wife and young son. Kapranos himself has mentioned in recent interviews how much he enjoys city life, highlighting local pleasures such as making daily visits to his favorite bistro or buying fresh bread every day. Scotland: He retains his country home in the quiet village of Moniaive (in the Dumfries and Galloway region), where he has his carpentry workshop and where the couple got married. The Franz Ferdinand frontman typically divides his time between family life in France and trips to Scotland for work and creative downtime.

He's the main guitarist, main vocalist, leader and frontman of the band.

Personal information:

Full name: Robert Byron Hardy
Height: 1.78m/5,8 ft tall
Day and place of birth: August 16th of 1980, in West Yorkshire, UK.
Age (in this story): 46

Physically: Medium-tall height and slim to slender build. Features are angular and typically British, with light eyes and a usually serious or concentrated expression. Bald, with short beard.

Psychologically: Pragmatic, focused, introverted and reflective. A very down-to-earth mindset. He didn't originally want to be a musician and felt that "the world already had enough terrible bass players." His decision to learn to play bass was purely conceptual. He is the quietest member of Franz Ferdinand. He has always preferred to let the band's music and artistic concept speak for themselves, staying out of the spotlight of the social media and the press.

Likes: He continues painting landscapes in his spare time as a way to disconnect from the music scene. He is passionate about both analog and digital photography. During the band's grueling world tours, he enjoys capturing the everyday, mundane, and solitary moments of life on the road. He has created acclaimed projects—such as a series of self-portraits taken in identical hotel rooms around the globe and images from days off ("Shows/No Show Days")—which have been exhibited in galleries. He is passionate about both analog and digital photography. During the band's grueling world tours, he enjoys capturing the everyday, mundane, and solitary moments of life on the road. He has created acclaimed projects—such as a series of self-portraits taken in identical hotel rooms around the globe and images from days off ("Shows/No Show Days")—which have been exhibited in galleries. Vegan Philosophy: Bob has been strictly vegan for many years. One of his favorite pastimes when touring in foreign cities is walking around to explore and discover small local restaurants with vegan options.

Vegan Philosophy: Bob has been strictly vegan for many years. One of his favorite pastimes when touring in foreign cities is walking around to explore and discover small local restaurants with vegan options. Traveling and experiencing cultures: You have mentioned that one of the aspects of your profession you enjoy most—especially as you mature—is the opportunity to visit interesting countries and locations.

Fun facts: Bob didn't know how to play bass and had no intention of being a musician. Alex Kapranos gave him a Rickenbacker bass on the condition that he learn to play it so he could form a band. Like his bandmate Kapranos (who even wrote a book of food reviews while on tour), Hardy is a food enthusiast and enjoys seeking out the best local restaurants. He is passionate about contemporary art and often takes advantage of world tours to visit local galleries and collect works by emerging artists. At first, Bob resisted because he wanted to concentrate on his career as a painter at the Glasgow School of Art, but Kapranos convinced him by saying, "Artists can play bass too."

Style of clothes: Plain dark shirts, basic black crew neck t-shirts or classic cut jackets and fitted trousers.

His place: She currently lives in London, England. She has mentioned in phone interviews that she spends a considerable amount of time creating and writing from her home in London.

He's the bassist of the band.

Personal information:

Full name: Julian Victor Corrie (his stage name is Miaoux Miaoux)
Height: 1.73m/5,6 ft tall
Day and place of birth: June 20th of 1985, in Nottingham, England.
Age (in this story): 41

Physically: Dark brown hair, usually short but with volume on top, sometimes styled back or in a slightly tousled way. She has dark eyes and often wears a short beard of a few days' growth or a well-groomed goatee. Slender and fibrous physical constitution.

Psychologically: His mind works in a highly versatile way. He does not limit himself to a single genre or role; he is just as comfortable composing delicate ambient pieces for the theater as he is producing energetic synth parts for indie rock or creating electronic pop. This demonstrates a great openness to experience and constant intellectual curiosity. Offstage, Corrie tends to project a more reserved, thoughtful, and meticulous demeanor. He has previously expressed how much he enjoys spending hours in the studio experimenting with sound textures and sound design, pointing to an analytical, patient, and highly focused nature. Joining a band with as much history as Franz Ferdinand in 2017 required great emotional maturity and flexibility. He has successfully integrated into the group dynamic, contributing his own identity while respecting the band's legacy—traits that speak to high interpersonal intelligence, empathy, and a strong aptitude for teamwork. Despite his immense talent as a multi-instrumentalist, he maintains a low profile in the media and on social media. He prefers to let his work and music speak for themselves, displaying a mature, grounded attitude far removed from the ego of the traditional rock star.

Fun facts: As a teenager, Julian was an electronic music purist. In an interview with The Scotsman, he recalled with a laugh that he used to spin rather obscure techno at school parties, even though all his classmates wanted to hear was commercial pop music.

His solo alias came about almost by accident, yet intentionally—as a bit of a game. He revealed in an interview with the Glasgow Times that he chose the name because it struck him as "a bit stupid" and served as an expression akin to "well, whatever," given that he initially viewed this electronic project merely as a hobby. Before making the full transition to international touring with Franz Ferdinand, Julian held a steady job in technical operations. After graduating with a Tonmeister degree (specialized sound engineering) from the University of Surrey, he worked as an audio engineer at BBC Scotland in Glasgow until 2016. When he joined Franz Ferdinand for the album Always Ascending (2018), the band decided not to use computer tricks, pre-recorded sequences, or automatic metronomes (arpeggiators) in their live performances. Julian plays every synth line note-for-note himself in real time. Lead singer Alex Kapranos jokingly described him as a "human arpeggiator."

Style of clothes: Button-down collared shirts (often black, dark, or with subtle geometric patterns), slim-fit trousers, and casual jackets or structured blazers.

His place: Julian Corrie lives in Glasgow, Scotland, a city where he settled permanently in 2010.

He's the synthesizers, keyboardist and harmonic guitarist on the band. He also has a solo carrier.

Personal information:

Full name: Audrey Tait
Height: 1.63m/5,3 ft tall
Day and place of birth: September 2nd of 1987, on Rutherglen, Scotland.
Age (in this story): 39

Physically: Long, straight hair of a natural dark brown or brunette color. Slim but athletic build. She has an oval face with delicate features, a fair complexion (typical of her Scottish heritage), and a broad, expressive smile. Her eyes are dark in color.

Psychologically: Approachable, and inspiring. Focused, professional, and with great human warmth. Great psychological maturity. He stated that his priority was to honor and respect the work of his predecessor, Paul Thomson, rather than trying to arrogantly impose himself from day one.

Likes: A huge fan of pop music. She loves combining pop structures with powerful, groovy rhythms. She loves matcha tea (which she considers totally underrated). A passionate Celtic FC supporter. She really enjoys going for walks as part of her daily routine to clear her mind and stay active.

Fun facts: She is not convinced by the Espresso Martini, vintage clothing stores and 5-string basses (she considers them overrated options). When it was announced that she would replace Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand’s iconic founding drummer), the band posted a photo on social media mimicking a track-and-field relay race. In it, Paul was shown physically handing his drumsticks to Audrey, giving her his immediate public blessing in the eyes of the fans. In an entertaining interview, he revealed that the most difficult concert of his first tour took place in Nice, France, in 30°C heat. Possessing a typically Scottish fair complexion, he struggled so much with the high temperatures that he had to strap a small portable fan to his cymbal stand to avoid fainting during the grueling 90 minutes of cardio the show demands.

Together with her business partner Lauren Gilmour, she founded and runs Novasound Studio. Based in Glasgow, it holds the distinction of being the only commercial recording and music production studio in Scotland managed exclusively by women, thereby fostering gender equity in audio engineering. Before achieving massive fame with Franz Ferdinand, Audrey’s raw talent was already making waves globally: she was a finalist in the Hit Like A Girl contest—the most prestigious international competition on the planet designed exclusively to showcase and reward female drummers.

Style of clothes: Usually without excessive jewelry. Casual clothing from classic brands such as Adidas Originals tracksuit jackets and Fred Perry polo shirts. Short-sleeved button-down shirts or light jackets over basic t-shirts, combined with wide-leg or straight-cut trousers. Her wardrobe is dominated by black, gray, navy blue and bottle green, occasionally interspersed with subtle patterns such as tartan or geometric color blocks.

Her place: Audrey Tait lives and works in the Glasgow area of Scotland. Specifically, she resides and focuses her professional activity between the city of Glasgow and the neighboring town of Cambuslang.

She's the drummer of the band.

Personal information:

Full name: Donald David Barr
Height: 1.78m/5,8 ft tall
Day and place of birth: May 8th of 1972, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Age (in this story): 54

Physically: Slim build, slender and of average height. Angular features, expressive eyes, and thick eyebrows. He's often seen sporting a short beard or a well-trimmed three-day beard. Short, dark brown hair with visible gray undertones and silver temples that betray her age (over 50). She usually wears a slightly tousled, textured hairstyle in a mod or rocker style.

Psychologically: Highly collaborative, adaptable and with a deep passion for cult music. He tends to keep his private life very low-profile. During interviews, when the group interacts, he acts as an attentive observer who offers precise comments, displaying a mature, calm personality and a characteristic dry Scottish wit. Replacing an iconic founding member like Nick McCarthy in a band the size of Franz Ferdinand requires great self-confidence and psychological resilience. Bardot stepped into the role with a low profile, earning the respect of fans through his impeccable live performances and his understated yet energetic stage presence.

Likes: Loves art and gives respect for underground pop culture. Marked interest in exploring international destinations and capturing the aesthetics of foreign countries. An absolute fan of 1970s progressive rock. In Q&A sessions, he has confessed his great weakness for pizza, highlighting that his favorite part is the combination of bread, cheese, and—above all—garlic. He also enjoys Chinese food from time to time. As an art school graduate, he appreciates unique visual pieces. On social media, he shows a fondness for collecting handmade badges or pins, art installations, and visual exhibitions (such as photographic tributes).

A great lover of felines. They often share photos of domestic cats (including funny moments of cats on bookshelves or wearing little sweaters) and even publicly celebrate when a lost cat from their neighborhood returns home.

Fun facts: He has moved between multiple bands in the Glasgow scene (such as V-Twin, 1990s, The Yummy Fur, and finally Franz Ferdinand), playing both bass and guitar. This demonstrates a flexible mindset, a well-managed ego, and a tremendous ability to integrate into established creative visions without causing friction. Before Franz Ferdinand, Dino was in a well-known indie band called 1990s. He joined the group in a highly chaotic fashion: the original bassist quit just five days before the start of a world tour. Dino learned the entire repertoire against the clock and saved the full three-month tour. Although he joined Franz Ferdinand in 2017, Dino had already known the members well for decades. In the 1990s and 2000s, he played in the band The Yummy Fur alongside Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand’s former drummer) and Alex Kapranos himself. The Glasgow music scene was so small and interconnected that his integration was almost immediate. Dino’s style is firmly established on Franz Ferdinand’s album The Human Fear (2025). Alex Kapranos has explained in interviews that he and Dino have contrasting approaches to playing the guitar: while Alex typically composes angular, rhythmic riffs for the start of tracks, Dino fills out the choruses with a much more atmospheric and melodic guitar sound. In addition to being a full-time musician, Dino has a keen academic interest in film and television. In 2016—just a year before joining Franz Ferdinand—he earned a Master’s degree in Sound for the Moving Image from the prestigious Glasgow School of Art, making him qualified to design and edit film soundtracks.

His place: He lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

He's the harmonic guitarist on the band.

Franz Ferdinand (2004)
• Jacqueline
• Tell Her Tonight
• Take Me Out
• The Dark of the Matinée
• Auf Achse
• Cheating on You
• This Fire
• Darts of Pleasure
• Michael
• Come on Home
• 40'

You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
• The Fallen
• Do You Want To
• This Boy
• Walk Away
• Evil and a Heathen
• You're the Reason I'm Leaving
• Eleanor Put Your Boots On
• Well That Was Easy
• What You Meant
• I'm Your Villain
• You Could Have It So Much Better
• Fade Together
• Outsiders

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009)
• Ulysses
• Turn It On
• No You Girls
• Send Him Away
• Twilight Omens
• Bite Hard
• What She Came For
• Live Alone
• Can't Stop Feeling
• Lucid Dreams
• Dream Again
• Katherine Kiss Me

Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013)
• Right Action
• Evil Eye
• Love Illumination
• Stand on the Horizon
• Fresh Strawberries
• Bullet
• Treason! Animals.
• The Universe Expanded
• Brief Encounters
• Goodbye Lovers and Friends

Always Ascending (2018)
• Always Ascending
• Lazy Boy
• Paper Cages
• Finally
• The Academy Award
• Lois Lane
• Huck and Jim
• Glimpse of Love
• Feel the Love Go
• Slow Don't Kill Me Slow

The Human Fear (2025)
• Audacious
• Everydaydreamer
• The Doctor
• Hooked
• Build It Up
• Night or Day
• Tell Me I Should Stay
• Cats
• Black Eyelashes
• Bar Lonely
• The Birds

Audrey is the replacement of Paul Thomson.

Dino is the replacement of Nick McCarthy.

Paul Thomson left in 2020 because he felt like he needed to, and Nick McCarthy left in 2016 because he wanted to spend time with his family and friends.