Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, have officially split up. Their breakup has been confirmed by their longtime publicist. This article explain why they split up and the story how they got the name “daft punk” for the duo.

It’s been years since their last public appearance, when they performed ‘I Feel It Coming’ live with The Weeknd. In a new video on YouTube entitled “Epilogue”, the two are walking in a desert, with Thomas gradually slowing down to allow Guy Manuel to gain some distance. Eventually, Guy notices and backs off. Thomas takes off his Daft Punk jacket, revealing a switch on his back – an off-switch.

A 59-second countdown begins. Thomas walks away and then dramatically explodes. Several times. From different camera angles.

“Touch” from their 2013 album Random Access Memories plays as “1993-2021” appears on the screen.

Why Daft Punk Broke up?

Few years after Daft Punk officially broke up, they release Random Access Memories 10th Anniversary Edition Album. Thomas Bangalter has a solo album, Mythologies, his first solo orchestral album. Ahead of the release, he spoke to the BBC and explained exactly why Daft Punk decided to officially break up.

“[Daft Punk] was an exploration, I would say, starting with the machines and moving away from them. I love technology as a tool [but] I’m kind of terrified of the nature of the relationship between the machines and ourselves,” Bangalter explained.

“We were trying to use these machines to express something extremely moving that a machine cannot feel but a human can. We were always on the side of humanity and not on the side of technology,” he added.

Thomas and Guy-Manuel have chosen to retain their more human side as AI and algorithmic technologies have become more popular.

On the new album, he explained: “Daft Punk was a project that blurred the line between reality and fiction with these robot characters. It was very important to me and [co-founder] Guy-Man[uel] not to spoil the story while it was happening. Now that the story is over, it felt interesting to reveal a part of the creative process that is very human and not algorithmic in any way”.

The real story behind the iconic name of Daft Punk is revealed

We all know who Daft Punk are – but do you know how the legendary duo got their name?

A new report explains how a number of bands got their iconic names. Rolling Stones, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Chumbawamba and many others – this list reveals some pretty funny stories about how these names were created.

As for Daft Punk, the electronic dance duo started out as “Darlin'”. But that all changed after one fateful review. The Telegraph explains it all here:

Previously known as Darlin’, after the title of a Beach Boys song, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter changed their name to Daft Punk after a 1993 review in Melody Maker described their music as “daft punky thrash”.

A good name can be the difference between success and failure for a band. It must be simple, memorable and different enough to stand out. But sometimes the story behind the name is a lot simpler than you might think.

Daft Punk Memorabilia

Daft Punk’s breakup in February 2021 marked the end of an era for electronic music fans worldwide. Their influence on the genre and pop culture as a whole cannot be overstated. Over their career, they consistently pushed the boundaries of electronic music, blending elements of house, techno, disco, and funk to create iconic tracks that have left a lasting impact. While it’s sad to see such a legendary duo disband, their legacy will undoubtedly live on through their groundbreaking music and the countless artists they’ve inspired.

As Daft Punk disbanded, fans found solace in the tangible memories encapsulated in their prized merchandise and memorabilia, each item a bittersweet reminder of an era now relegated to the annals of music history.