Ananova:

Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut album has gone Gold in the US selling more than 500,000 copies after 20 weeks on release.

The album this week moved back up the Billboard Top 200 from No. 46 to No. 42.

It peaked at No. 32 last month and is currently the only album by a British act in the Top 50. In June the album passed the one million sales mark worldwide.

Franz Ferdinand's first American single, Take Me Out, is up to No. 71 in the chart and is No. 3 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The Glasgow four piece begin their third North American tour of the year next month.

The tour begins at New York's Roseland Ballroom on September 9 and wraps up at the same venue on October 3. They will also tape an appearance for CBS' The David Letterman Show on October 4.

The band are due to play the Carling Weekend; Reading and Leeds Festivals on August 28 and 29 and begin a UK and Irish tour at Belfast's Ulster Hall on October 11.

The band's new single, Michael, taken from the album is released on August 16.