Alex Kapranos
Birthday:
March 20, 1972 in Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire, England, UK
Birth Name:
Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley
Height:
180 cm
Alex Kapranos was born on March 20, 1972 in Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire, England as Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley. He is an actor and composer, known for Un amour sans fin (2014), Dumb & Dumber De (2014) and 9 Songs (2004).
[on the death of Bo Diddley] It's rotten news about Bo Diddley. When I heard it I put 'Road Runner' on the record player. What a riff. What ...Show more »
[on the death of Bo Diddley] It's rotten news about Bo Diddley. When I heard it I put 'Road Runner' on the record player. What a riff. What a guitarist - totally revolutionised the way the instrument was played with that loose sexy rhythm. Show less «
I adore the flamboyance of Freddie Mercury, the riffs and beats of Led Zeppelin and what Pete Townshend "did with his legs as he held his gu...Show more »
I adore the flamboyance of Freddie Mercury, the riffs and beats of Led Zeppelin and what Pete Townshend "did with his legs as he held his guitar". I prefer singles to LPs. I unashamedly love a good pop tune from "Blitzkrieg Bop" to "Push the Button" or Nelly Furtado's amazing new song, "Maneater". I despise ELP (Emerson Lake and Palmer), Yes and Marillion less for their unrestrained self-indulgence than for just being boring. Show less «
Just because you can leap off a drum kit doing a scissors kick while hitting a chord, people expect you to be an extrovert socially. But I'm...Show more »
Just because you can leap off a drum kit doing a scissors kick while hitting a chord, people expect you to be an extrovert socially. But I'm not always comfortable with the idea of small talk at a party. Show less «
It's easy to be lazy when there's food lying around backstage or there's a fast-food joint a couple blocks away. But if you walk a little fu...Show more »
It's easy to be lazy when there's food lying around backstage or there's a fast-food joint a couple blocks away. But if you walk a little further, ask around a bit, of course there are exciting things to discover. Show less «
No matter what you do, if you're trying to create something new, your environment has a massive impact on you.
No matter what you do, if you're trying to create something new, your environment has a massive impact on you.
Arty. To me the word's got as much venom associated with it as 'wacky'.
Arty. To me the word's got as much venom associated with it as 'wacky'.
There's a difference between expectations and aspirations.
There's a difference between expectations and aspirations.
I want to make music that will make the blood surge in your veins, music that will get people up and dance.
I want to make music that will make the blood surge in your veins, music that will get people up and dance.
I think in the world of indie music there's this sort of false modesty.
I think in the world of indie music there's this sort of false modesty.
I think a lot of bands are creatively knackered when they come off tour.
I think a lot of bands are creatively knackered when they come off tour.
I didn't grasp the basic principle of being a promoter, which was: Put on music but also generate an income. I was on the dole most of the t...Show more »
I didn't grasp the basic principle of being a promoter, which was: Put on music but also generate an income. I was on the dole most of the time. Show less «
Boredom or being sick of what you've done before is a big part of being in a band.
Boredom or being sick of what you've done before is a big part of being in a band.
Boho to me is a first-year student who's just discovered the tie-dye shop.
Boho to me is a first-year student who's just discovered the tie-dye shop.
Being in a band didn't buy me my beans on toast!
Being in a band didn't buy me my beans on toast!
Ambition is sneered at by some bands. It seems like a pretty good thing to me.
Ambition is sneered at by some bands. It seems like a pretty good thing to me.
A lot of food criticism has a similar flavour to it, and I'm probably going to write about it in a different way.
A lot of food criticism has a similar flavour to it, and I'm probably going to write about it in a different way.
A lot of bands have the enthusiasm kicked out of them by playing really dreary pub venues that just churn bands through.
A lot of bands have the enthusiasm kicked out of them by playing really dreary pub venues that just churn bands through.
Traditionally, lots of vagrants and unemployable characters wind up working in kitchens.
Traditionally, lots of vagrants and unemployable characters wind up working in kitchens.
There's a character that I play onstage, and I can't let him loose in the supermarket when I'm buying my beans on toast.
There's a character that I play onstage, and I can't let him loose in the supermarket when I'm buying my beans on toast.
There are loads of bands I'd love to produce.
There are loads of bands I'd love to produce.
The internet is like a gossipy girls' locker room after school, isn't it?
The internet is like a gossipy girls' locker room after school, isn't it?
The best songwriting comes from being as creative as you can and editing it down to the good bits, essentially.
The best songwriting comes from being as creative as you can and editing it down to the good bits, essentially.
Surely every band wants to be a pivotal point in history.
Surely every band wants to be a pivotal point in history.
People's musical tastes are fickle, and music can be a fashion.
People's musical tastes are fickle, and music can be a fashion.
Men behave very oddly in the company of attractive women.
Men behave very oddly in the company of attractive women.
It's very rare that a song falls from your mind complete.
It's very rare that a song falls from your mind complete.
It doesn't matter how adventurous you want to be, you've still got to contain your identity.
It doesn't matter how adventurous you want to be, you've still got to contain your identity.
If success had come along when I was 17 it would either have killed me or sent me completely mad.
If success had come along when I was 17 it would either have killed me or sent me completely mad.
If I was a fan of someone as a teenager, then it's OK for me to feel completely in awe when I meet them.
If I was a fan of someone as a teenager, then it's OK for me to feel completely in awe when I meet them.
Ideally, musicians belong outside the Establishment. When they cross that line, it's like something in them has died.
Ideally, musicians belong outside the Establishment. When they cross that line, it's like something in them has died.
I'm not a food critic, and I'm not really an authority to write anything on food.
I'm not a food critic, and I'm not really an authority to write anything on food.
I'd rather eat a cow-pat on a bun than a bloody McDonalds.
I'd rather eat a cow-pat on a bun than a bloody McDonalds.
Of course, there's a certain type of person who feels that anything which becomes mainstream has to be rejected immediately. And that's part...Show more »
Of course, there's a certain type of person who feels that anything which becomes mainstream has to be rejected immediately. And that's part of the indie-alternative snobbery and hierarchy and elitism. Show less «
Maybe 'Can't Stop Feeling' and 'Turn It On' we'll just release as singles. It's a thing The Beatles used to do which I really loved, the ide...Show more »
Maybe 'Can't Stop Feeling' and 'Turn It On' we'll just release as singles. It's a thing The Beatles used to do which I really loved, the idea of releasing something as a single completely on its own. Show less «
I really want it to have an impact on the world. I want to be in a town on the other side of the world, and somebody walks up and says, 'Tha...Show more »
I really want it to have an impact on the world. I want to be in a town on the other side of the world, and somebody walks up and says, 'That music you made in Glasgow, I listened to it every day, and it moved me.' Show less «
Glasgow's not a media centre. When you're there, when you're hanging about, you feel quite detached from musical movements or fashions or an...Show more »
Glasgow's not a media centre. When you're there, when you're hanging about, you feel quite detached from musical movements or fashions or anything like that. You do feel quite alone, in a good way. Show less «
Cinema, which is influenced by every single part of life, is direct and reaches you immediately. And writing - the best writing is complex i...Show more »
Cinema, which is influenced by every single part of life, is direct and reaches you immediately. And writing - the best writing is complex ideas communicated concisely. And music - if it's a good tune, make sure people can bloody hear it. Show less «
Although they might not admit it, I think girls are very aware of the impact that they're having. But they never feel it themselves, and it'...Show more »
Although they might not admit it, I think girls are very aware of the impact that they're having. But they never feel it themselves, and it's impossible to explain. It's like trying to tell a blind person what yellow is. Show less «
You really only understand whether a song's good or not when you properly play it out in public for the first time.
You really only understand whether a song's good or not when you properly play it out in public for the first time.
You can only begin to be great when you embrace a sense of your own ridiculousness.
You can only begin to be great when you embrace a sense of your own ridiculousness.
Why play a chord when you can play one note?
Why play a chord when you can play one note?
Relevancy is a phrase I can't really comprehend. The people who struggle with it most are people who define their selves by their age. When ...Show more »
Relevancy is a phrase I can't really comprehend. The people who struggle with it most are people who define their selves by their age. When I look at the front row of audiences and I see they're thick with people in their mid-teens, I'm fascinated by it because I think, 'Wow, you can't be here because you bought our first record because you would have been five'. Show less «
While you may come to a point in your life when you have consciously rejected belief systems, you still have the spiritual urge or desire to...Show more »
While you may come to a point in your life when you have consciously rejected belief systems, you still have the spiritual urge or desire to have it all explained to you. There are various different ways in which the landmarks of our life change. It happens throughout your life. Show less «
[on a common misconception that youth originated rock'n'roll] It's a misinterpretation of what rock'n'roll is. You can trace that to the ver...Show more »
[on a common misconception that youth originated rock'n'roll] It's a misinterpretation of what rock'n'roll is. You can trace that to the very beginning, right back to Bill Haley who invented rock'n'roll. Even in the psychedelic era Timothy Leary was a middle-aged man who probably had more influence than Roger Daltrey. It's not the age, but it's the vividness of ideas. Show less «
I was never very good at smoking. Just did it to show off and annoy my mum.
I was never very good at smoking. Just did it to show off and annoy my mum.
[a fan complains about his new haircut making him look "quite old"] I am quite old, and quite happy to be so, thank you very much.
[a fan complains about his new haircut making him look "quite old"] I am quite old, and quite happy to be so, thank you very much.
I'm extremely un-nostalgic; when I ride my bike, I never look over my shoulder, because if I do, I'll fall off. That's exactly how I feel ab...Show more »
I'm extremely un-nostalgic; when I ride my bike, I never look over my shoulder, because if I do, I'll fall off. That's exactly how I feel about being in my band. [...] If I look over my shoulder too much, I'm gonna fall off. I have no intention of doing so. Show less «
[on what Franz Ferdinand are looking for in a new member] They must really like cats.
[on what Franz Ferdinand are looking for in a new member] They must really like cats.
Being drunk on eBay is a dangerous game.
Being drunk on eBay is a dangerous game.
Dub Step is dance music for people who don't like dancing.
Dub Step is dance music for people who don't like dancing.
[on Twitter] OK. Seven minutes Q&A. Let's go! [Bob Hardy: When's dinner?] There's still some snacks on the table, Bob. Will they do? [Bob Ha...Show more »
[on Twitter] OK. Seven minutes Q&A. Let's go! [Bob Hardy: When's dinner?] There's still some snacks on the table, Bob. Will they do? [Bob Hardy: Pfff.] Do you want to eat before you go onstage? You know it makes you sleepy. Show less «
[Lanark: A Life in Four Books by Alasdair Gray] It's a memorable book. Especially to emotionally repressed teen with asthma and eczema.
[Lanark: A Life in Four Books by Alasdair Gray] It's a memorable book. Especially to emotionally repressed teen with asthma and eczema.
[Hi Alex, what are you gonna be for Halloween this year?] I presume I'll be dressing up as the guy from Franz Ferdinand again.
[Hi Alex, what are you gonna be for Halloween this year?] I presume I'll be dressing up as the guy from Franz Ferdinand again.
I am currently at the hospital being well looked after. My eyes and throat have swollen to unnatural proportions, but everything else is OK....Show more »
I am currently at the hospital being well looked after. My eyes and throat have swollen to unnatural proportions, but everything else is OK. [Twitter user: Your penis still tiny then?] It only grows to its full size when I'm with yer maw. Show less «
[Fan on Twitter: You love your inhaler?] Need, not love. [Fan: Inhaler upset :(]
[Fan on Twitter: You love your inhaler?] Need, not love. [Fan: Inhaler upset :(]
[Fan on Twitter: Can't wait to see you on Monday! If you see a girl having an asthma attack, it'll be me :)] I'll lend you my inhaler.
[Fan on Twitter: Can't wait to see you on Monday! If you see a girl having an asthma attack, it'll be me :)] I'll lend you my inhaler.
If you've always thought hell is other people, just wait until they bring their children round.
If you've always thought hell is other people, just wait until they bring their children round.
I'm obsessed with grammar, not by grammar.
I'm obsessed with grammar, not by grammar.
When I do karaoke, I drink too much then try and do songs that are outside my range. In Tokyo, I tried to sing "Heart of Glass" and panicked...Show more »
When I do karaoke, I drink too much then try and do songs that are outside my range. In Tokyo, I tried to sing "Heart of Glass" and panicked. But I enjoyed it. Show less «
