“It’s really a misconception to feel like ‘artist’ will be able to gain back a certain amount of control if this control has been somehow compromised along the way.”
This summer the French TV station Canal+ (24-05-15), and NME already aired and streamed the entire documentary about the French house music duo Daft Punk. On Saturday October 11th, the Dutch NPO3-3DOC broadcasted the documentary ‘Daft Punk Unchained’ (TRAILER). A BBC Worldwide France 2015 production, directed by Hervé Martin Delpierre. Basically the first ever documentary film on the most secretive music duo in the world. The true final story of how the band transformed into the popular phenomenon they are today….
Get more info about the documentary on Canal Plus’ website here.
Melody Maker’s review of their first band Darlin’ gave them their name. It described their song ‘Cindy, So Loud’ as “a daft punky thrash.”
- In 1995 Daft Punk released ‘Da Funk’, their first commercial hit with the brilliant Music video from Spike Jonze – YOUTUBE
‘Da Funk’ immediately launched Daft Punk to the top of the music industry globally. Everyone knew what to expect from the two Frenchmen, whom met at school when they were both 12 –years-old; Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (rumoured to be of aristocratic stock, and his ancestors are thought to have ridden against Henry V at Agincourt) and Thomas Bangalter. This with influences from Rock, EDM and a futuristic robot twist.
- Two years later they released “Around the World” and again with a great Music Video, this time directed by Partizan member Michel Gondry – VIMEO
The Music Video also gave them the idea to move over to the robot concept. Gondry will mention in the documentary the robot idea comes from Paul Verhoeven’s brilliant 1987 feature film Robocop. (RoboCop – Flesh + Steel: The Making of ROBOCOP)
- In 1998, Thomas Bangalter’s side project Stardust had a worldwide hit with ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ – YOUTUBE
Human After All was Daft Punk’s 3rd album, first released on 14 March 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States. The Album got mixed reviews and the guys decided not the market the album.
- After a huge 2005 offer with decline, in 2006 a new offer came in from the organisation of Coachella. This to play for a $300.000 budget. Asking for a continues more and more advance % of the booking budget, Guy and Thomas created in secret, the legendary LED (Bionic League) Pyramid show that changed LA’s rockers perspective and Music management world, and basically revolutionised the live electronic music scene – PHOTOS
The Alive 2006/2007 tour was met with praise and critical acclaim. The Times described Daft Punk’s set as a “memorable sensory spectacle, both dazzling and deafening” – YOUTUBE
In contrast to normal austere stage setups for EDM artists or live acts we had not seen a real live show like this. An EDM act with a clear story, with a beginning, middle and final end.
- What followed was of course “The touring version of Pink Floyd’s The Wall is one of the most ambitious and complex rock shows ever staged.” It is estimated that the tour cost £37 million ($60M) to stage – YOUTUBE
Daft Punk continued their Alive 2006/2007 tour. The tour was huge success, with a number of 48 shows: 20 in Europe, 14 in North America, 5 in Asia, 5 in Oceania and 4 in South America. Daft Punk recored their album Alive 2007 at the Bercy, Paris (June 2007).
- In 2006, Daft Punk made a movie called ‘Electroma’ about two robots and their attempt to become human. The film has no dialogue and was their first project not to feature their own music – YOUTUBE
- Daft Punks first televised live performance by the duo in their career was at the Grammys in 2008. The duo appeared with Kanye West to perform a reworked version of ‘Stronger’ – VIMEO
At the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con Daft punk announced that they composed 24 tracks for the film Tron: Legacy. Daft Punk’s score was arranged and orchestrated by Joseph Trapanese. The score features an 85-piece orchestra, recorded at AIR Lyndhurst Studios in London.
- In 2010 Daft Punk were admitted into the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, an order of merit of France. Bangalter and de Homem-Christo were individually awarded the rank of Chevalier (knight) – LEXPRESS
- Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (インターステラ5555) is a feature-length Japanese-French animated adventure fantasy science fiction musical film originally released on 28 May 2003. The film was produced by Daft Punk, Cédric Hervet and Emmanuel de Buretel along with Toei Animation, under the supervision of Leiji Matsumoto. – YOUTUBE
The great thing about the documentary is that when you see photo above of Thomas and Guy-Manuel, or from the archive material in the beginning of the doc. you ask yourself; “Are they responsible for the five Grammy wins with “Random Access Memories” in 2014, including Album of the Year, as well as Record of the Year for “Get Lucky”, Yes they are!
Daft Punk has not allowed for their faces to be photographed since May 1996, and that’s why they have they have been making ‘good’ music for 23 years. Not choosing the ‘lavish-open-celebrity-lifestyle’ provides them to live a normal life and that’s what in my opinion, one of the mayor reasons why they have been so ‘consistent’ since the 1992 Versailles, France, Indie rock punk rock band Darlin’.
- Daft Punk – Get Lucky (Official Audio) ft. Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers currently has 233,078,629 million views and 211,893,664 million plays on spotify (YOUTUBE) + (SPOTIFY)
“It’s like the opening of a great MGM old school mayor dramatic film. This is life, this is the essence of life. This is the gift of life, it’s all on this music, It’s all right there …’Dream, Beyond dreams, Beyond life you will find your song….’ It’s what life is! …. co-writer Paul Williams about his Daft Punk song ‘Beyond’ – YOUTUBE (My personal favourite)
With the participation of their closest collaborators and friends from director Hervé Martin Delpierre, co-writer Marina Rozenman, Kanye West, Pharrell, Nile Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, Michel Gondry, Paul Williams, Todd Edwards, photographer Peter Lindbergh, Pete Tong, former Daft Punk manager/Ed Banger founder Pedro Winter, designer Tony Gardner, and artist Leiji Matsumoto – A-One-to-WATCH!
Keep sailing on that generosity ship Guy and Thomas! ….(GRAMMY.COM)
Photo credit: Daft Punk.