Franz Ferdinand is a British rock band formed in Glasgow, Scotland. Their name is taken from the name of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose murder led to the first world war. Franz Ferdinand is a member of Alexander Kapranos (vocals, lead guitar), Robert Hardy (bass and backing vocals), Nicholas McCarthy (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) and Paul Thomson (drums, backing vocals).
Their debut album named Franz Ferdinand (released in 2004) reached number three on the UK album charts and won the Mercury Music Prize in 2004. The following year, their second album, You Could Have It So Much Better reach number one.


Franz Ferdinand has so far released eight singles, a double and two single specific single music video, in which the "Take Me Out," "The Dark of the Matinee," "This Fire" (on the download chart) and "Do You Want To "all ranked top ten in the UK.
Franz Ferdinand is known as the Scottish band, but actually just the drummer, Paul Thomson, who was born there. Other members were all born in England and then eventually moved to Scotland. Alex was born in Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire; Nick in Blackpool, Lancashire, and Bob in Bradford, Yorkshire.