Background
Kapranos was born on March 20, 1972 in Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, England. He moved to Glasgow in 1983.
Kapranos was born on March 20, 1972 in Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, England. He moved to Glasgow in 1983.
Kapranos attended the University of Aberdeen to study Theology, but he dropped it out. He continued studying at the University of Strathclyde and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2005, he was awarded Strathclyde's Alumnus of the Year.
Kapranos did odd jobs as a chef, barman, music promoter, driver, welder and IT lecturer before beginning his career in music. From the early 1990s, he was a fixture of the Glasgow music scene as a promoter for small Glasgow venues, most notably The 13th Note, where he ran the Kazoo Club. Also he played bass as well as guitar in some of Glasgow's popular bands, including The Yummy Fur, The Karelia, Quinn, and The Amphetameanies.
Alex formed Franz Ferdinand in 2001. The band was composed of Alex Kapranos, lead vocals and guitar, Nick McCarthy, guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, Paul Thomson, drums, percussion, backing vocals and Bob Hardy, bass guitar. In 2016, McCarthy left the band and Julian Corrie, keyboards, synthesiser, guitar, backing vocals, and Dino Bardot, guitar, backing vocals, joined the band in 2017. The band achieved the success after their second single "Take Me Out", which was released on 12 January 2004 and reached Number 3 in the United Kingdom Charts followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand, whic was released 9 February 2004 and debuted on the United Kingdom album chart at Number 3. In 2015, the band collaborated with American band Sparks to form a supergroup named Franz Ferdinand and Sparks.
Kapranos is a producer of a debut album by British indie rock band, Citizens! - "Here We Are", the second album of Scottish guitarist RM Hubbert - "Thirteen Lost & Found" and the third album by British indie rock group, The Cribs in Vancouver BC - "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever".
In 2005, Kapranos began "Soundbites", 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. Also in 2016, Alex took part in a documentary about Glasgow music and Chemikal Underground Records, called "Lost in France".
Kapranos is known for his crazy facial expressions, on-stage scissor kicks, sharp sense of style and quiet intellect.
Kapranos has never been married, but had a long relationship with Eleanor Friedberger.
