Reason for Thomson\'s absence is the newborn child he and his wife recently received. Franz Ferdinand dedicated the song Take Me Out to their regular sticksman.

In 2005 Andy Knowles sat in for Thomson as well, when the group had decided to let the drummer switch to guitar and temporarily add him as their third guitarist to their line-up. See also this previous report on Drummerszone. Andy Knowles, also known as the ‘fifth member’, frequently plays guitar on stage with Franz Ferdinand.

Speaking about Franz Ferdinand and children: the Scottish indie titans have donated a song, Jackie Jackson, to a compilation album that benefits the organisation Save The Children. The album, \"The Colours Are Brighter\", will ben released in the UK in October. Other participating bands are The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, and Snow Patrol.