Alex Kapranos

Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley was born on 20 March 1972 in Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire, the son of an English mother and Greek father.{{cite web|author=Scott|first=Neil|title=The Mind's Construction Quarterly » Alex Kapranos|url=http://tmcq.co.uk/interviews/alex-kapranos/|access-date=5 November 2011|website=TMCQ.co.uk}} As a two-month-old he moved to Sunderland,{{cite news |title=Franz's Alex comes home to Sunderland |url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/franz-s-alex-comes-home-to-sunderland-1-1065330 |access-date=11 March 2021 |work=Sunderland Echo |date=17 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725153341/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/franz-s-alex-comes-home-to-sunderland-1-1065330 |archive-date=25 July 2018}} moving to Scotland when he was a child.{{cite news |last1=Geddes |first1=Jonathan |title='Fatherhood's like the early days of Franz Ferdinand' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rjelr56m7o |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=BBC |date=25 December 2024}} He attended Bearsden Academy,https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/alex-kapranos-of-franz-ferdinand-accuses-nationalists-of-making-him-english-on-wikipedia-2461893 then the University of Aberdeen to study Theology. After dropping out, he continued studying at the University of Strathclyde, gaining a BA. In 2005, he was awarded Strathclyde's Alumnus of the Year.{{Cite web|title=Alumnus Of The Year|url=http://www.strath.ac.uk/alumni/aoy/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026052333/http://www.strath.ac.uk/alumni/aoy/|archive-date=26 October 2012|website=University of Strathclyde Glasgow}}

Kapranos worked as a chef, barman, waiter and delivery driver prior to his success in music.{{cite news |last1=Battaglia |first1=Andy |title=Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand |url=https://www.avclub.com/alex-kapranos-of-franz-ferdinand-1798210881 |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=The A.V. Club |date=15 February 2007}} From the early 1990s, he was a fixture of the Glasgow music scene, running live nights at The 13th Note Café, most notably The Kazoo Club.{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}}

While working at the Glasgow's Anniesland College in late 90's, Alex Kapranos played in some of city's bands, including The Blisters (later known as The Karelia), The Amphetameanies and The Yummy Fur. He also contributed to the noise rock band Urusei Yatsura and Lung Leg recordings.

File:Alex Kapranos.jpg

After dropping "Huntley" from his name, Kapranos formed Franz Ferdinand in 2001. The band was composed of Kapranos, Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals), Paul Thomson (drums, backing vocals) and Bob Hardy (bass). The band saw chart success after their second single "Take Me Out" was released on 12 January 2004{{Cite web|title=Singles|url=http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/discog.php?discog_cat=2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129221711/http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/discog.php?discog_cat=2|archive-date=29 November 2007|website=FranzFerdinand.co.uk}} and reached Number 3 in the UK Charts{{cite web|title=Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out|url=http://acharts.us/song/518|access-date=27 September 2014|website=ACharts.us}} followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand (released 9 February 2004),{{Cite web|title=Albums|url=http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/discog.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208084058/http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/discog.php|archive-date=8 December 2007|website=FranzFerdinand.co.uk}} which debuted on the UK album chart at Number 3.{{cite web|title=Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand|url=http://acharts.us/album/13357|access-date=27 September 2014|website=ACharts.us}}

The band went on to win the 2004 Mercury Music Prize{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3636272.stm |title=Ferdinand win Mercury Music Prize |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2004 |access-date=5 November 2011}} and two Brit Awards in 2005{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=10 February 2005|title=Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, Keane Win Big at Brit Awards|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496776/20050210/franz_ferdinand.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905090859/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496776/20050210/franz_ferdinand.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2012|access-date=5 November 2011|website=MTV}} for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act.

In 2015, the Franz Ferdinand collaborated with American band Sparks to form a supergroup named FFS.

Also in 2015 Kapranos joined the supergroup BNQT.

In 2019 British band All We Are released a single "Heart Attack" with Alex Kapranos.{{cite news|url=https://diymag.com/news/all-we-are-franz-ferdinand-alex-kapranos-speedy-wunderground-single-heart-attack|title=ALL WE ARE & FRANZ FERDINAND'S ALEX KAPRANOS TEAM UP FOR SPEEDY WUNDERGROUND SINGLE|publisher=diymag.com |date=27 February 2019 |access-date=22 August 2023}}

In 2020 Kapranos released an English-French cover of "Summer Wine" with Clara Luciani.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/alex-kapranos-shares-clara-luciani-duet-summer-wine-and-tells-us-whats-next-for-franz-ferdinand-2716847|title=Alex Kapranos shares new Clara Luciani duet 'Summer Wine' and tells us what's next for Franz Ferdinand |publisher=nme.com |author=Andrew Trendell|date=28 July 2020 |access-date=22 August 2023}}

Kapranos produced Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever—the third album by British indie rock group The Cribs in Vancouver, B.C., released on 14 May 2007. He also produced their single-only track "Don't You Wanna Be Relevant?", which was featured with "Our Bovine Public" (from Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever) as a double A-side.

Kapranos makes a cameo appearance in the video for "Our Bovine Public".{{cite web|title=The Cribs – Our Bovine Public|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLKL6iUFSQQ|access-date=5 November 2011|website=YouTube}}

His remix of the single "New in Town" by British pop singer Little Boots was featured on various formats of the singles release.

He produced the debut album by British indie rock band Citizens!, Here We Are, which was released by Kitsuné on 28 May 2012.{{cite web|date=13 March 2012|title=Citizens! debut album 'Here we are' announcement|url=http://www.kitsune.fr/journal/2012/03/events/citizens-debut-album-here-we-are-announcement-european-tour/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611072737/http://www.kitsune.fr/journal/2012/03/events/citizens-debut-album-here-we-are-announcement-european-tour/|archive-date=11 June 2012|access-date=22 November 2012|website=Kitsuné Journal}}

He produced the second album of Scottish guitarist RM Hubbert, Thirteen Lost & Found.

In 2019, he produced the single "Pista (Great Start)" by London-based band Los Bitchos, which he described thus: "Truly international with cumbia beats, Turkish psychedelia, a hint of Swedish pop and a touch of shoegaze shimmer. More than anything, they put you in a really good mood when you listen to them. Celebratory trills and whoops energise the vibrant Dick Dale-esque guitars and brass, making for a blistering escape to a rip-roaring desert session."{{Cite web|last=Swash|first=Olivia|date=12 August 2019|title=Bask in the dazzle of Los Bitchos' cumbia-tinged gem 'Pista (Great Start)'|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/song-of-the-day/los-bitchos-pista-great-start|access-date=4 July 2020|website=The Line of Best Fit}}

In September 2005, Kapranos began "Soundbites",{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/story/0,16525,1576764,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Whine tasting | date=23 September 2005 | access-date=23 April 2010 | first=Alex | last=Kapranos}} a weekly food column for G2 in The Guardian newspaper, which detailed his culinary adventures as Franz Ferdinand traversed the globe on their world tour. Sound Bites: Eating on Tour with Franz Ferdinand, a book of the column and unreleased material illustrated by Andy Knowles, was released in 2006.

Sound Bites: Eating on Tour with Franz Ferdinand was read by Kapranos on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week for 4–8 December 2006, described as "his account about what he ate while touring the world."{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/schedule/2006/12/04/day/ |title=Radio 4 Programmes – FM Schedule, Saturday 5 November 2011 |publisher=BBC |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=5 November 2011}}

Kapranos narrated the 2008 BBC Scotland documentary Edwyn Collins: Home Again on the recovery of Orange Juice singer Edwyn Collins.

Also in 2008, Kapranos narrated the BBC Radio 1 documentary The Story of Kraftwerk.

In 2016, Kapranos took part in a documentary about Glasgow music, and Chemikal Underground Records, called [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5747466/ Lost in France]. The film was directed by Niall McCann and brought Kapranos (along with members of The Delgados, Mogwai and others) to Mauron, Brittany, to recreate a gig they played when Kapranos was in his earlier band, The Karelia. The film features Kapranos playing live with Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, and other musicians such as Emma Pollock and RM Hubbert, and Holy Mountain, as well as interviews with Kapranos and his old label-mates. Lost in France premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival to wholly positive reviews and was called "Funny, vital and sobering"{{Cite web|last=Porteous|first=Lewis|date=1 February 2017|title=Alex Kapranos on Glasgow's 90s music scene|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/uk-festivals/film/alex-kapranos-on-lost-in-france|access-date=4 July 2020|website=The Skinny}} by Scotland's arts publication, The Skinny.

Kapranos was interviewed for Edgar Wright's 2021 documentary film The Sparks Brothers, centered around the band Sparks, with whom Franz Ferdinand formed supergroup FFS.{{cite news |last=Collinge |first=Miranda |title=Edgar Wright on Finally Making A Doc About Sparks, Pop Music's Secret Weapon |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/film/a37141088/edgar-wright-the-sparks-brothers-interview/ |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=Esquire |date=27 July 2021}}

From 7 August to 11 September 2022, Kapranos presented a six part Sunday night radio programme titled "The Alex Kapranos Show" on Absolute Radio.{{cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title=Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos to join Absolute Radio for six-part series |url=https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/franz-ferdinands-alex-kapranos-to-join-absolute-radio-for-six-part-series |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=bauermedia.co.uk}}

In his spare time, Kapranos enjoys "crafting abstract furniture in his carpentry workshop" .{{cite web|author=Dowling|first=Marianne|date=23 November 2009|title=Franz Ferdinand keeps it interesting|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/Franz_Ferdinand/2009/11/23/11883701-jam.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710182351/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/Franz_Ferdinand/2009/11/23/11883701-jam.html|archive-date=10 July 2012|access-date=5 November 2011|website=Jam.canoe.ca}}{{Cite web|date=22 December 2008|title=Franz Ferdinand: Tonight's The Night|url=http://www.shockhound.com/features/277|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102124701/http://www.shockhound.com/features/277|archive-date=2 January 2009|website=ShockHound}}

In June 2005, Kapranos was detained for around an hour by officials at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow after being mistakenly identified as belonging on a U.S. "no-fly" list. This occurred due to the surname on his passport, Huntley, also having been previously used as an alias by the former MI6 agent Richard Tomlinson. Tomlinson had been fired, imprisoned, and labelled a security risk after circulating to publishers a draft of a book on MI6. Kapranos was released after officials determined that he did not fit Tomlinson's description.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article138197.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220073355/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article138197.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 December 2016|title=Russians hold Franz, the MI6 rock agent|last=Fielding|first=Nick|date=19 June 2005|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=9 December 2016}}{{cite web|date=2 June 2015|title=ON THIS DAY: June 2 – Queen Elizabeth was coronated 62 years ago today|url=http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/DAY-June-2-Queen-Elizabeth-coronated-62-years-ago/story-26617758-detail/story.html#ixzz3c1LFMTZ4|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225220102/http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/DAY-June-2-Queen-Elizabeth-coronated-62-years-ago/story-26617758-detail/story.html#ixzz3c1LFMTZ4|archive-date=25 December 2015|access-date=1 November 2016|website=North Devon Journal}}

Growing up in Sunderland, he supported the local football club Sunderland A.F.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/franz-tastic-1598233|title=Franz-tastic!|date=25 November 2005|website=Chroniclelive.co.uk}}

Kapranos has asthma and is allergic to peanuts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/your-stories/like-having-blonde-or-dark-hair-having-asthma-for-me-is-just-part-of-my-make-up/|title=Alex Kapranos: "Like having blonde or dark hair, having asthma for me is just part of my make-up"|website=Asthma.org.uk|access-date=14 November 2020}}

Kapranos dated singer Eleanor Friedberger for a few years (he dedicated the song "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" to her).{{Cite news |last=Hoby |first=Hermione |date=2016-01-19 |title=Eleanor Friedberger: 'I had a hard time imagining myself standing onstage not being young and beautiful' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/19/eleanor-friedberger-new-view |access-date=2023-06-12 |issn=0261-3077}}

Since 2019, he has been in a relationship with French musician Clara Luciani. Luciani announced her pregnancy with the couple's first child in May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Machetto |first=Clément |date=2023-05-15 |title=Clara Luciani enceinte : Alex Kapranos, le futur papa, réagit et c'est très second degré |url=https://news.yahoo.com/clara-luciani-enceinte-alex-kapranos-135143097.html |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=news.yahoo.com |language=fr}}

They married in Scotland at the end of May 2023.{{Cite web |last=stacy |date=2023-06-16 |title=Clara Luciani, pregnant, married her rocker! Wedding in complete "intimacy" in Scotland, in a "very isolated" village |url=https://euro.dayfr.com/celebrities/381832.html |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=euro.dayfr.com|language=en}} Their son was born in September 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.parents.fr/actualites/accouchement/clara-luciani-a-accouche-la-jeune-maman-poste-une-photo-originale-et-devoile-le-sexe-de-son-bebe-1032976|title=Clara Luciani a accouché : la jeune maman poste une photo originale et dévoile le sexe de son bébé}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.franzferdinand.com Franz Ferdinand official website]
• [http://www.worldhum.com/qanda/item/franz_ferdinand_alex_kapranos_sound_bites_20070204/ Alex Kapranos interview with World Hum]
• [http://spin-cdnsrc.texterity.com/spin/200903/?pg=70&pm=2 Alex Kapranos interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716215053/http://spin-cdnsrc.texterity.com/spin/200903/?pg=70&pm=2 |date=16 July 2011 }} with SPIN

{{Franz Ferdinand}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kapranos, Alex}}

Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century Scottish male singers

Category:Scottish rock singers

Category:Scottish rock guitarists

Category:Scottish male guitarists

Category:Scottish male songwriters

Category:Scottish male singer-songwriters

Category:Scottish singer-songwriters

Category:Scottish people of English descent

Category:Scottish people of Greek descent

Category:Franz Ferdinand (band) members

Category:Ivor Novello Award winners

Category:Alumni of the University of Strathclyde

Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen

Category:People from Almondsbury

Category:People educated at Bearsden Academy

Category:FFS (band) members

Category:BNQT members

Category:The Yummy Fur members

Category:The Cribs members

Category:British post-punk musicians

Category:21st-century Scottish male singers