Daft Punk
Biography
Daft Punk was a French electronic music duo formed in Paris in 1993 by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in the history of electronic dance music. The duo met in 1987 at school in Paris and later formed an indie rock band called Darlin' with Laurent Brancowitz. After a negative review in Melody Maker magazine dubbed their music "a daft punky thrash," Bangalter and de Homem-Christo adopted the name Daft Punk.
Early Career and Homework
In 1993, Daft Punk gave a demo tape to Stuart Macmillan, co-founder of the Scottish label Soma Quality Recordings, at a rave at EuroDisney. This led to the release of their debut single "The New Wave" in 1994. Their next single, "Da Funk," released in 1995, became their first commercial success. After signing with Virgin Records in 1996, they released their debut album, Homework, in 1997. The album, which blended house, techno, funk, and rock, received positive reviews and featured the hit singles "Around the World" and "Da Funk." It is considered a landmark album in the French house movement.
Discovery and the Robot Personas
Starting in 1999, the duo adopted robot personas for their public appearances, wearing elaborate helmets and costumes to maintain their anonymity. Their second album, Discovery, released in 2001, marked a shift in style towards a sound inspired by disco, R&B, and 70s and 80s pop. Critically acclaimed, Discovery achieved major success with hit singles like "One More Time," "Digital Love," and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." The album also served as the soundtrack for the animated film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, which was supervised by Japanese anime and manga artist Leiji Matsumoto.
Human After All and Alive 2007
Their third studio album, Human After All, was released in 2005 to mixed reviews, though the singles "Robot Rock" and "Technologic" were successful. In 2006, Daft Punk directed their first film, an avant-garde science fiction movie called Electroma. They embarked on the Alive 2006/2007 tour, which featured a massive pyramid-shaped stage and stunning visuals. The tour was widely praised and is credited with helping to popularize dance music in North America. The live album Alive 2007, recorded in Paris, won a Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album.
Random Access Memories and Mainstream Success
Daft Punk composed the score for the 2010 film Tron: Legacy. Their fourth and final studio album, Random Access Memories, was released in 2013. A departure from their sample-based sound, the album featured live instrumentation and collaborations with artists like Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Giorgio Moroder. The album was a massive commercial and critical success, winning five Grammy Awards in 2014, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for the lead single "Get Lucky." "Get Lucky" became a global hit, reaching the top 10 in 27 countries. In 2016, the duo was featured on The Weeknd's number-one single "Starboy."
Breakup and Legacy
On February 22, 2021, Daft Punk announced their breakup via a video on their YouTube channel titled "Epilogue." In a later interview, Bangalter cited concerns over the rise of artificial intelligence as a reason for the split, stating, "As much as I love this character, the last thing I would want to be, in the world we live in, in 2023, is a robot." Daft Punk's influence on the music industry is undeniable, with many artists citing them as an inspiration. They are credited with helping to bring electronic music into the mainstream and for their groundbreaking live performances.