The band first experienced chart success when their second single "Take Me Out" reached #3 in the UK Charts, followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand which debuted on the UK album chart at #3. The band went on to win the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and two BRIT Awards in 2005 for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act. NME named Franz Ferdinand as their Album of the Year. From the album, three top-ten singles were released, "Take Me Out", "The Dark of the Matinee" and "This Fire". The band have also received several Grammy Award nominations.
The band is named after the Austrian Archduke of the same name, whose assassination was a factor in the outbreak of First World War. The band chose the name after watching the racehorse The Archduke race.
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