10 Things You Didn’t Know About Daft Punk
You probably know that Daft Punk are two French guys who dress like robots and had a small role in 'Tron: Legacy.' But did you know that they were originally a trio with one of the guys in Phoenix? It's one of the 10 Things You Didn't Know About Daft Punk.
- Chris Moorhouse, Getty Images
Chris Moorhouse, Getty Images One of the guys’ dad was a disco producer in the ‘70s
Thomas Bangalter's father, Daniel Vangarde, was a '70s-era producer and writer who worked on disco records, mostly in Europe. It's pretty cool stuff. You can hear his influence in his son's material.
- Central Press, Hulton Archive
Central Press, Hulton Archive They were originally named after a Beach Boys song
In the early '90s, before they formed Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo led a band called Darlin', which was named after a 1967 Beach Boys song. They're fans.
- William Vanderson, Hulton Archive, Getty Images
William Vanderson, Hulton Archive, Getty Images They took their name from one of their early, bad reviews
A review of Darlin' in Melody Maker referred to the group as "daft punky thrash." So Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo disbanded their old group and formed a new one.
- Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Christopher Polk, Getty Images They were originally a trio with one of the guys in Phoenix
When they were in a rock band called Darlin', Thomas Bangalter played bass, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo was on guitar and Laurent Brancowitz played drums. He later joined Phoenix as a guitar player.
They didn’t wear any costumes during early performances
Back when they first started playing EDM as Daft Punk, the duo didn't wear their famous robot costumes. Very early performances didn't include any set outfits. They started wearing masks after their debut album.
- Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images They didn’t start wearing their helmets until their second album
After their second album, 2001's 'Discovery,' was released, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo began sporting their famous robot helmets to take on a futuristic persona.
LCD Soundsystem wrote two songs about them
New York City band LCD Soundsystem referenced Daft Punk in their 2002 debut single, 'Losing My Edge.' Three years later, they released 'Daft Punk Is Playing at My House' on their first album.
Their robot costumes were mocked on ‘Flight of the Conchords’
In an episode of the hipster comedy 'Flight of the Conchords,' the New Zealand indie-folk duo made a video for a song featuring shoddy-looking robots. "It doesn't look like Daft Punk," they lament.
They have their own Coca-Cola line
In 2011, Coca-Cola produced and distributed a limited-edition bottle, available only in France, designed by the duo and based on their robot costumes. The bottles were called Daft Coke.
- Neilson Barnard, Getty Images
Neilson Barnard, Getty Images They made parts of their new album in the studio where the Muppets recorded
Sections of 'Random Access Memories' were recorded at Henson Recording Studios, where the Muppets song 'Rainbow Connection' was made. That song's author, Paul Williams, sings 'Memories'' 'Touch.'
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