London: Scottish art rockers Franz Ferdinand, widely lauded as Britain’s band of the moment, on Monday scooped the most nominations for the NME Awards to be held next month. Already crowned best band last year at the prestigious Mercury Awards, Franz Ferdinand is now up for five awards — best British band, best live act, best single, best video and best album for their eponymous debut recording. Pete Doherty will go head-to-head against his former band The Libertines, which dumped him because of his crack addiction, for the title of best live band. Doherty’s new group, the Babyshambles, is also nominated for best new band. The 25-year-old, who once claimed to spend £1,000 a week on his drug habit, was named “cool icon of 2004” by NME, the British music magazine sponsoring the awards.— AFP