Bob Hardy (bassist)

Robert Byron Hardy (born 16 August 1980) is an English musician and the bassist in the band Franz Ferdinand.

Bob Hardy
Hardy performing with Franz Ferdinand in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Robert Byron Hardy
Born	(1980-08-16) 16 August 1980 (age 45) Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England
Origin	Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Genres	Indie rock post-punk revival art rock
Occupation	Bassist
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Domino
Member of	Franz Ferdinand
Formerly of	FFS

Biography

Hardy grew up in the outskirts of Bradford and attended Bradford Grammar School. Hardy is an artist with an interest in music while friend and bandmate Alex Kapranos is a musician interested in art; this is one of the primary reasons for how their friendship was established.^{[citation needed]} Through Hardy's friends from the Glasgow School of Art, Kapranos developed an interest in the work of the Dadaists and the Russian Constructivists. Many of the earlier shows of the band would come about thanks to the band's art world contacts.^[1][2]

Hardy is a painter, vegan and safety campaigner.^[3]

Equipment

Hardy plays a 1974 and a 1978 Rickenbacker 4001s / Hagström / Fender Precision. He previously used an SWR Goliath bass cabinet but now uses an Ampeg SVT Pro head and Ampeg 8x10 cabs. He uses Ernie Ball strings – roundwounds, medium gauge. His plectrum is a custom .60 mm magnesium/teflon amalgam.