One of EDM’s legendary acts shocked fans with their latest announcement – GRAMMY-Award winning duo Daft Punk, a.k.a. Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, are splitting up after 28 years.
The pair shared the news in a cryptic video posted on YouTube, titled “Epilogue.” The eight-minute video featured an excerpt from their 2006 film Electroma, where the two of them, donning their signature helmets, walking through a desert until one eventually stops walking altogether and later presses a button on a detonator.
His companion, who continued to walk away, eventually explodes. The screen fades to black as their 2013 song “Touch” plays in the background. A two robot hands – one silver, the other gold – along with words “1993-2021” appear on the screen soon after, and the other guy walks off into the sunset.
Per CNN, Daft Punk’s longtime publicist, Kathryn Frazier, confirmed the split and addressed rumors that the duo were retiring – it’s true.
The two helped popularize the EDM movement of the 2000s – the found international success with their 2001 album, Discovery, which featured tracks like “One More Time,” “Digital Love,” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” The pioneering duo also gave a legendary performance at Coachella 2006.
Daft Punk also received multiple GRAMMY nomination throughout their career – including the instrumental soundtrack they made for the 2010 Tron remake. Their 2013 album, Random Access Memories, which featured collabs with Nile Rogers, Pharrell Williams and more, won them four GRAMMYs in 2014, including Record of the Year for “Get Lucky” and Album of the Year. They also collaborated with The Weeknd on his 2016 album, Starboy – including the album’s titular track.
Following their split, The Weeknd paid tribute to the duo on Instagram Story.
“Thrilled to be a part of the journey,” he wrote on an image of the three of them.
