Franz Ferdinand share new versions of ‘Build It Up’ and ‘Hooked’ featuring Johnny Marr and Master Peace

Franz Ferdinand have shared new versions of ‘Build It Up’ and ‘Hooked’ featuring Johnny Marr and Master Peace.

• READ MORE: Franz Ferdinand return with ‘Audacious’ and tell us about new album ‘The Human Fear’

Alex Kapranos and co. recently returned with their sixth studio album, January’s ‘The Human Fear‘.

Now, they’ve shared even more material from the record – including a new version of ‘Build It Up’ featuring ex-The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. Marr and Franz originally performed the track together for an Amazon Music Live session, and have subsequently headed into the studio to record the track.

Speaking about the collaboration, Kapranos said: “Johnny is an inspiration. Literally. I sat in my bedroom as a teenager trying to work out how to play his melodies. To hear his distinctive playing on our song is glorious. He’s elevated it in that way only he can.”

Alongside their Marr collaboration, Franz have also shared a live version of their remix of ‘Hooked’ with Master Peace. The track was recorded at their Barrowlands gig in Glasgow, with Master Peace supporting the band on tour.

Take a listen to both tracks below:

We spoke to Kapranos last year ahead of the album, where he told us about whether the band discussed being “pure Franz” in the same way Hans Zimmer once reportedly advised Marr to “BE JOHNNY FUCKING MARR”.

“That’s great, because someone like Johnny probably doesn’t notice what a legend he actually is,” Kapranos responded. “I know he’s always pushing himself to do new things, and being yourself doesn’t preclude innovation. You can still look for new things that you haven’t done before; new ideas, new sentiments, new feelings to communicate to the world.

“Lyrically, this is something we’ve not done in a song before. Musically, there are things that haven’t happened in Franz Ferdinand songs before – but I love that at the same time you’re thinking, ‘Damn, that’s unmistakably Franz Ferdinand’. To me, that’s the Holy Grail: do something new but absolutely be unquestionably yourself.”

Franz will soon be stopping by Glastonbury this weekend for a slot at the Other Stage on Friday. They will join headliners Neil Young, The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo for the Pyramid Stage, and Loyle Carner, Charli XCX and The Prodigy on the Other Stage. Rod Stewart will be playing Sunday’s Legend’s Slot.

They’ll also embark on a UK and Europe tour in 2026, including a huge show at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on March 11. See below for a full list of dates and get your tickets here (UK) and here (international):

The Franz Ferdinand UK and Europe 2026 tour dates are:

FEBRUARY
24 – LiveHouse, Dundee
25 – O2 Academy, Leeds
27 – Academy, Manchester
2 – NX, Newcastle
 
MARCH
2 – Rock City, Nottingham 
3 – UEA, Norwich
4 – Dome, Brighton
6 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
7 – Beacon, Bristol
8 – Great Hall, Cardiff
10 – Guildhall, Portsmouth
11 – Brixton Academy, London
29 – Gasometer, Vienna
31 – Zenith, Muncih

APRIL
1 – Tempodrom, Berlin
3 – Forest National, Brussels
4 – Palladium, Cologne
8 – 013 Pompodium, Tilburg
10 – Rockhal Box, Luxembourg
11 – Jahrhunderhalle, Frankfurt

In other news, the band shared another classic Britney Spears cover – this time an orchestral take on ‘Toxic’.

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