Nicholas McCarthy

Nicholas Augustine McCarthy, (Born December 13, 1974) is the lead guitarist and backing singer of the Glaswegian band Franz Ferdinand. Born in Blackpool, UK, McCarthy was raised in Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany.

Related Topics:
December 13 - 1974 - Franz Ferdinand - Blackpool - UK - Rosenheim - Bavaria - Germany

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was a troubled youth who broke into buildings and stole alcohol and cars (although he only went on joyrides and claimed that he always returned them), which earned him the name "Nick McCarthief." Despite his delinquencies, McCarthy still took his musical and theatrical aspirations seriously. He trained classically as a pianist and double bassist, at the Munich Conservatory, supporting himself with the earnings of his street-performing. He was a well known feature of the streets of Munich, where he entertained countless children with his tattered trousers, large shoes and shiny red nose. Whilst residing in Germany, Nick played double bass, cello and Arabic lute in a band called Embryo, whose music can be described as a 'fusion of jazz, rock and ethnic world music'. After extensively touring with Embryo, Nick decided it was time for somewhere new, returned to the UK and, on a friend's suggestion, moved to Glasgow.

Related Topics:
Pianist - Double bassist - Munich Conservatory - Embryo - Glasgow

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What he didn't realize, though, was that Glasgow can be unforgiving to those unfamiliar with its ways. He learned the hard way that quirks considered cool by Germans can get you assaulted by Scots. It didn't help that he arrived in Glasgow with no money and no job, and didn't know anyone that could help him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eventually, he broke into Glasgow's underground cultural scene when, at a party, he met Alex Kapranos. Apparently, McCarthy's criminal tendencies resurfaced as Kapranos caught him stealing his vodka. A fight ensued, but Kapranos had sympathy for the odd looking little German and asked McCarthy if he could play the drums for a new band he had started. McCarthy said he did, although he couldn't play them in any particular coherent order. The fact that Nick's drumming ability was somewhat lacking became irrelevant as they soon discovered that they could write songs together. He eventually swapped instruments with the current drummer Paul Thomson and the band became Franz Ferdinand. McCarthy also played in the Glaswegian jazz band Scatter.

Related Topics:
Alex Kapranos - Franz Ferdinand

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following in the footsteps of his great uncle, Jerry Lewis, on July 2nd, 2005, Nick McCarthy married Manuela McCarthy, in Germany.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~