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Festival Interviews


Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand

Interview: Franz Ferdinand

By Clare Garnett
WE caught up with band of the moment, art-punk rockers Franz Ferdinand, before their Saturday mainstage set for a quick chat about fans, the festival, new material and a whirlwind 12 months.


Q:  How many times have you played the Reading Festival before?

A:  Only once. We played here last year on the Carling new bands' stage.

Q:  How high up the bill were you then?

A:  I think we were about 2 O'clock in the afternoon. Something like that.

Q:  So it just goes to show how this year's been for you.

A:  Yes, it's been a pretty fast turn around, yeah. It's very good.

Q:  And are you looking forward to your set today?

A:  Yeah, we're really looking forward to playing. Can't wait!

Q:  Any surprises in store for the crowd?

A:  I think we're going to play a couple of songs that nobody will have heard. Well maybe a couple but songs that we haven't played in the UK yet.

Q:  Not even at Glastonbury?

A:  No, no, we didn't play them at Glastonbury.

Q:  Oh, okay. I saw that set. Did you go to many festivals before you were in a band? T in the Park, perhaps?

A:  I've been at T in the Park, I've been at Glastonbury and Reading before. Yeah, yeah, quite a few times - I like festivals.

Q:  And what do you hope the audience will get out of your set?

A:  I hope they'll feel amazing afterwards, because that's how we always feel. You just feel kind of energised and I'm totally buzzing, so I hope that's how it goes for everybody else as well.

Q:  And do you still get nervous?

A:  I never get nervous. I never have got nervous before gigs, I just get a really excited feeling. I just can't wait, I just really love it.

Q:  What other bands are you looking forward to seeing?

A:  I'm going to go in, see a bit more of the New York Dolls, I saw a bit of the 5, 6, 7, 8's earlier. I wanted to see Blanche, Blanche are really cool. I want to see the White Stripes, Morrissey, The Libertines. I missed Razorlight, which is a shame - I wanted to see them.

Q:  How did your stint in Japan go?

A:  Oh Japan, amazing. The audiences are very intense there.

Q:  What's been your highlight of the year so far?

A:  Highlight of the year? Oh I couldn't say. Maybe playing T in the Park.

Q:  Are you looking forward to the Mercury Music Prize?

A:  Well, we'll wait and see. I hope Belle and Sebastian win.

Q:  Do you still pop down to your local pub whenever you're back home?

A:  I usually go to my regular, which is Stereo in Glasgow.

Q:  And as the best-dressed men in rock do you there's a pressure of having to go on stage looking your best?

A:  I just go on stage wearing clothes I like. We always have done and always will do.

last updated: 30/08/04
Have Your Say

St. Jimmy
Franz Ferdinand rock. I like their song fabulously lazy - coz I am. If you don't like them go suck eggs.

Mr Ras
They have vey catchy tune but a very limited musical ability. The bass player for example is getting away with murder. I think in 10 years time most people will be embarassed to have liked this band.

Sofie
i agree with Alice From Australia, if you dont like Franz then rack off and go complain about them with poeple like you who have a highly limited taste in music. Radiohead are probably more timeless, but right now Franz Ferdinand are a great rock/pop band, now DEAL with it!

wiska
image over content,"take me out",is a catchy song,but will we remember all the songs in 10years or the image created? overrated in my opinion. but each to there own,i think ill stick on "ok computer" instead.

bethany
i think anybody who moans about franz bein so bad are musically thick and obviously wouldnt know a good band and good music if it slapped them in the face if u think u can do any better then do it but franz are the best so dont even go there!

audra-n-franz
you guys are wounderful i wish i could see them in person and there new song is grand and i love it!!!I also love all there other songs.hope to see them someday!!!!

Alice from Australia
stop bagging Franz if you hate them so much go start your own 'i hate franz ferdinand' website and go complain to someone who cares. i mean, if you hate the ferds so much why did you come onto this webpage then? i mean,. if you really hate franz you would'nt come near this page with a ten foot pole. so stop bagging them and go bag someone else. p.s: i would like to see how you re-act when someone bags out YOUR bands.

josh clarke
do you want to is brilliant great one lads

me
I really loved Franz... and then my 40 year old German teacher told me she liked them too. Now I still really like Franz, but I can't look at my teacher in the same way EVER AGAIN. And Alex is really sexy (I know I'll get eaten for this) and I think he looks better without a fringe.

sinita kapranos
GO LOZZA!! ur so right, u sad sad losers with nothing better to do than be jealous of franz. well shame on you, you fools, i would swear but many young children would probably see this. btw, FRANZ FERDINAND ARE ULTIMATELY THE GREATEST ROCK ACT EVER, NOT JUST ROCK, BUT THEY ARE THE BETS IN ANY CONTENT. THEY ROCK. I WOULDNT MIND IF ALEX ASKED TO TAKE ME OUT IN THE MATINEE AS LONG AS MICHAEL COULD COME, WE COULD HAVE A GAME OF DARTS OF PLEASURE AND THE WORLD WOULD GO MAD SO DO YOU WANT TO? that was my little franz-song-mix-thingy there. ALEX IS THE SEXIEST GUY ON IN THE UNIVERSE, HES SWEET, FUNNY, SEXY, INTELLIGENT, CHARMING, HOT...I COULD GO ON FOREVER...JUST TO SAY THAT MY MATES THINK IM MENTAL BECAUSE I OBSESS OVER HIM SO MADLY, HES ALL OVER MY BEDROOM WALL AND I INVOLVE HIM IN MY SCHOOL WORK, I DID A PRESENTATION ON HIM IN ENGLISH AND IN SCIENCE (i know ur thinking how can you invlve alex in science, but I CAN INVOLVE HIM IN EVERYTHING!!) I AM THE HUGEST FRANZ FAN EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOOOOOOOOOO

Sophie
Alex can Take Me Out anytime. Gorgeous, clever, well dressed, amazingly sexy. He's even growing his beautiful fringe back. My friends say I'm obsessed with him. They're probably right. Franz Ferdinand are my favourite band. Go Glasgow. Yay.

Kennythescreamingrealsdrummer
i love idlewild, they dont seem 2 ever have made it as huge as they deserve to, i have seen them live and there stage presence is awsome, averyone should give them a chance theyr brilliant!!!

chud
franz ferdinand are absolutely horrendous!!

mayra
tienen estilo, me hacen bailar y alex es el hombre mas sexy del mundo

Lozza
Franz Ferdinand are an awesome band and I think all you people coming on here winging that you hate them are sad and pathetic. If you have nothing better to do with your time than to complain about things you don't like, then I feel sorry for you. I love Alex!!

Andy
Franz Ferdinand are very possibly the worst band on the face of the earth at the moment. Perhaps rivaled only by Keane. Their music is akin to listening to my cat howling when she is in season. Anyone who thinks otherwise is musically ignorant and really needs to expand their horizons.

sophz
I think Franz Ferdinand are an absolutely amazing band - indie AND inspiring! They are alongside great bands such as Switchfoot and Nickleback. :D

bubbles
i luv franz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they totally rock! p.s alex is so hot! i luv the way they dress!

carla
alex is the sexiest man alive

Razorlight and Franz Ferdinand are soo hot!!!!!!!!
Both bands are really good...the guys from Razorlight are pretty hot...but Franz Ferdinand...PHWOAR!!!!!!!

Julz
I adore Franz Ferdinand sooooooo moch they are deffenetly the best band ever and willalways be my favourite band no matter what my friends r into but hay i like being original

Razorlight is pretty cool, like Franz
Razorlight is a pretty cool band, but Franz Ferdinand?!...PHWOAR!!!!!!!!

Ashley Kaprnos!
Alex is sooooo hot!!! my freinds say im obsessed

Mr Brightside
Alex Kapranos...Pretty! Very pretty! Take Me Out!

angela
alex makes me melt!!!!!

christian(i have a hot brother)
it roks-actually i hate them so much that whenever my friend (jazz) talks about them i vomit!! :):S

katie price
franny rocks

Jazzemma
Franz Ferdinand=wicked they are well cool...but emma prefers greenday... i have a split peronality disorder that why my name has 2 parts so it has 2 opinions!! Razorlight guy is freaking hot!! :)

arianna
Tony Blair only likes Franz Ferdinand because it is in his best political interest to like them. Their music is great and to categorize them with Nickleback makes you a musically challanged idiot.

looperboy
Franz Ferdinand are an appalling band. Empty and Vacant, somehow perceived as artistic and intellectual. Tony Blair's favourite band of the moment; that says it all. Tony the trendy vicar.

Elanor
Franz Ferdinand are my favourite band! They're brilliant!

alisa
i hate franz ferdinand. i think they are a big mistake to be famous. let them go down with switchfoot and nickelback

svenja
Ahhhh, Alex Kapranos :)

Kirsty
Alex Kapranos is hot!!

im getting the new york dolls dvd
The new york dolls are the best band ever

evanee the scab
RAZORLIGHT FOREVER!!!!!!!! woooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

oliver
the festival wass my first but it was amazing, the razorlight were fantastic just like franz ferdinand. but the best by far had to be the white stripes.

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