FLASHBACK: Daft Punk

In 1992, Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Laurent Brancowitz took the remains of a larger highschool garage band and formed a trio under the name Darlin'. 

Bangalter on bass, de Homem-Christo on guitar and Brancowitz on drums, branded themselves after the Beach Boys track of the same name, which they covered along with another original composition 'Cyndy, So Loud'.

In the same year, Stereolab released both tracks as part of a multi artist release on Duphonics Records, and saw the trio invited to the UK to open a run of shows hosted by the label. A negative review in Melody Maker music newspaper had them dubbed as "a bunch of DAFT PUNK", and it was at this point at which the band decided to part ways.

Branchowitz went on to form the legendary french trio we know and love as Phoenix, while Bangalter and de Homem-Christo took their negative revue and turned it into a positive, christening their new project 'DAFT PUNK'.

1993 saw the newly formed duo put a demo tape in the hands of DJ/producer and co-founder of  Soma Quality Recordings, Stuart Macmillan a.k.a Slam, while at a rave at EuroDisney and formed the basis for the debut DAFT PUNK single 'The New Wave'. The limited release gave DAFT PUNK the traction they needed to return to the studio in 1995 and record what became their first commercially successful and since monumentally adored tune: 'Da Funk'.

With the succes of Da Funk saw the addition of their first manager, all round nice guy Pedro Winter (better known as Busy P) and their partnership with Virgin Records begin.

With a collective arsenal in associated talent, the duo began their climb to the top of the dance music pyramid.

1997's 'Homework' put DAFT PUNK solidly on the map with singles 'Da Funk', 'Alive' and 'Around The World' blowing into club anthems and pushing the duo closer towards mainstream pop culture.

Notable milestones for the release manifested in a series of music videos directed by Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, Roman Coppola and Seb Janiak. 4 years later the world saw the release of their sophomore album 'Discovery', and stood witness as the duo took a stranglehold on the dance music scene with singles such as 'One More Time', 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger', 'Digital Love' and 'Face to Face'.

A celebration of the monumental album was made in the 2003 feature length film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, produced by Daft Punk under the supervision of duo's childhood hero Leiji Matsumoto. In March of 2005 the duo released their third studio album and begun touring their live show that became widely appreciated one of the best presentations of live dance music after the release of their second live album 'Alive 2007' two years later.

Since then there has been a six year silence from DAFT PUNK, however it has recently been announced that the duo have penned a deal with Columbia Records with their brand new as yet untitled album set to drop in the next few months. There are many rumours flying around about which special guests have been invited to collaborate on the records including Chic's NILE RODGERS, and GIORGIO MORODER. Stay tuned for further developments.

Words by Chevy Long

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