Franz Ferdinand
DIY spoke to frontman Alex Kapranos prior to the band's appearance at their Teenage Cancer Trust concert.
Posted 2nd March 2006, 6:33pm in Interviews, by Emma Swann
"We're really excited. It's our first time here". Alex Kapranos, front man of indie-pop superstars Franz Ferdinand is for once, it seems, a man of few words. Just hours before his band are due to take to the stage of the Royal Albert Hall for what could be the most prestigious gig of their careers yet – playing in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, in a line-up personally picked by Roger Daltrey."The Teenage Cancer Trust do a wonderful job" he enthuses. "We were really taken aback to be called personally by Roger Daltrey and asked to play this gig". The event – which is part of a week long fundraising schedule for the charity – features Franz playing alongside Kaiser Chiefs, Graham Coxon and The Magic Numbers – all of whom seem to be milling around aimlessly outside the quiet confines of the dressing room. Yet more proof t'Chiefs can't stay still for more than a few minutes at best.
The Glasgow-based band are also playing dates this summer, supporting U2 on a number of shows on their tour "It's just a couple of dates in Spain", Kapranos is quick to state. "It's hardly a tour". The gigs – San Sebastian and Madrid – will possibly be their biggest crowds outside of festivals yet.
It's certainly been a mad year and a half since the band played a mid afternoon set on the Carling stage of the Reading & Leeds festivals. Selling more albums than anyone could possibly imagined, and even gaining a foothold on the other side of the pond, they really are a worldwide name.
And what's next for the quartet? "We're in the middle of recording our second album. We'll be going back up to Glasgow as soon as we've finished tonight".
Finally, since Franz have a reputation for promoting new talent to a larger audience – DIY favourites Kaiser Chiefs and The Blood Arm the most notable recent successes – do they have any more upcoming acts we should be on the look out for? After a long pause – "The Beat Trap are really good".
Cancer is more common than you think – it is the most common cause of non-accidental death in teens and young adults in the UK. By the age of 15 you have a 1 in 600 chance of developing cancer. By the age of 24 you will have had a 1 in 285 chance of developing cancer. In the last 30 years the incidence of cancer in the teenage and young adult group has increased by 50% and for the first time ever, the number of teens with cancer now exceeds the number of children with cancer.
To find out more visit teenagecancertrust.org
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