Written by: Alex Green
Nick McCarthy, the co-founder and guitarist of Franz Ferdinand has left the band.
The Blackpool-born McCarthy was raised in Germany after his parents moved the family to Vagen. The young musician was classically trained as a pianist and double bassist at the Munich Conservatory.
During his tenure in Germany McCarthy played in an outfit called Kamerakino as well as a jazz fusion band called Embryo, who enlisted him for his skills on bass and cello.
After moving to Glasgow where he began playing with the band Scatter, McCarthy met Alex Kapranos and the two formed Franz Ferdinand.
Initially, McCarthy’s role in Franz Ferdinand was behind the drum kit, but he soon migrated to rhythm guitar and keyboards.
The 42-year-old McCarthy has been on all four of Franz Ferdinand’s albums, but in a prepared joint statement, the band confirmed he, “…will not be taking part in the recording or touring of the next Franz Ferdinand album.”
The statement also asserted that, “…this is not necessarily a permanent situation.”
McCarthy hopes to spend more time with his family and other musical projects for now, but could re-join the band at a later date.
You can read the joint statement below:
A message from us: pic.twitter.com/zeoNIUXZOl
— Franz Ferdinand (@Franz_Ferdinand) July 8, 2016
