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Today in Music History: Franz Ferdinand frontman suspected of espionage (what?)

Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos (L) was detained by Russian authorities on suspicion of espionage, Today in Music History.
Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos (L) was detained by Russian authorities on suspicion of espionage, Today in Music History.courtesy Press Here Productions

June 02, 2015

History Highlight:

Today in 2005, Franz Ferdinand frontman, Alex Kapranos, was detained by Russian police after being suspected of being a spy. Kapranos was attempting to board a plane in Moscow when the altercation took place. Traveling under his actual surname, Huntley, Alex was accused of being an MI6 agent who was previously suspected of stealing information about Russian weaponry. Unluckily for Alex, the surname Huntley was also used by an actual former MI6 agent, Richard Tomlinson, who did steal secrets in the early 1990s. The singer was freed after he pointed out that the Huntley they were so concerned about was 42 years old, 13 years Kapranos's senior.

Also, Today In:

1962 - Ray Charles started a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. and U.K. singles charts with the Don Gibson-penned country ballad, "I Can't Stop Loving You."

1964 - During their first U.S. tour, the Rolling Stones made their U.S. TV debut on The Les Crane Show, which was aired at midnight and had viewers phoning in to ask the band questions.

1973 - Paul McCartney had two No. 1 positions on the U.S. charts when Red Rose Speedway went to the top of the album chart and "My Love" started a four-week run as the No. 1 single.

1979 - Donna Summer started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Hot Stuff", her second U.S. No. 1.

1981 - Prince made his live British debut at The Lyceum Ballroom in London (he wouldn't play the U.K. again for five years).

2008 - American blues guitarist and singer Bo Diddley (Ellas Otha Bates) died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida aged 79.

Birthdays:

Charlie Watt, drummer for Rolling Stones, is 74.

Singer Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet is 55.

Keane pianist Tim Rice-Oxley is 39.

Fabrizio Moretti, drummer for The Strokes, is 35.