French house pioneer Thomas Bangalter — one half of the legendary Daft Punk duo — returned to the stage for a surprise back-to-back DJ set with English electronic music producer Fred Again.., Erol Alkan of U.K.-based electronic music label Phantasy Sound, and Pedro Winter of French electronic music label Ed Banger Records. The event took place in Paris’ Centre Pompidou on Saturday, October 25, marking a rare convergence of electronic dance music’s most influential figures.
The set marked Bangalter’s first live appearance since Daft Punk — a project he shares with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo — performed a surprise set at the 2017 Grammy Awards alongside The Weeknd. According to an Instagram post by Fred again.., it was also his first time performing without the duo’s iconic helmet in over two decades. “Thomas told me in this lift on the way down to the show that the first time he fell in love with electronic music was in this building in 1992. He also told me he hasn’t played a proper set without the mask on for 24 years. I didn’t know what to say to either of those things and I still don’t. All I said to him at the end is that I hope it isn’t 24 years ‘til the next.”
The night’s spontaneity felt symbolic — a revival of the spirit Daft Punk helped build throughout the 1990s and 2000s, when French house first shaped global dance floors with classics such as “One More Time,” “Get Lucky,” and “Around the World.” Bangalter’s return reminded audiences of the enduring influence of his work as part of Daft Punk and as a solo artist. With this surprise set, he reconnected two worlds: the legacy of French electronic music, and the forward-thinking pulse of the U.K.’s current scene.
