“Somebody told me he’s only learned to DJ these past couple of years, which is pretty impressive for someone who’s in their 70s,” Alex enthuses. “I’m a huge Giorgio Moroder fan going back to the glam-era ‘Son Of My Father’ song he did with Chicory Tip. We were in Ireland last year when the person he’s probably synonymous with, Donna Summer, died.”

Indeed, Hot Press was present at the Dolan’s Warehouse gig in Limerick where Franz played ‘I Feel Love’ as a tribute to the Divine Ms. S.
Franz’s festival season started Stateside in April.

“We did Coachella, which is really good but very different atmosphere-wise to Glastonbury or Bestival or the Picnic,” he recalls. “I’m used to festivals where people go for a bit of a bevvy and a bit of a dance, but at Coachella you can only drink about a mile away from the stage. You’re not allowed to bring alcohol into the main bit, so it just smells of grass. Marijuana’s not so much legal now in California as compulsory!”

We also jawed to Mr. K about Franz’s fabulous new Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action album; taking part in the Beck Song Writer gig with Jarvis Cocker and the man himself; appearing on Conan and Letterman and strange volcanic religious phenomena.

Read the full interview now in our Electric Picnic special, on shelves now.