Behind the mask: Thomas Bangalter on Daft Punk’s anonymity

Anonymity was both a shield and a cage for Thomas Bangalter, the man behind the mask in Daft Punk.

Thomas Bangalter, ex-Daft Punk member, has shared his experiences of anonymity. The duo’s iconic robot helmets provided this anonymity. Bangalter spoke to Brut, a French news channel. He highlighted the pros, cons, and amusing scenarios that arose from wearing the helmets.

One such scenario was when someone unknowingly sold him a ticket to his own show. “This anonymity allowed for protection and seclusion,” says Bangalter. It was practical but also created a certain distance. He recalls an amusing situation in London. Someone tried to sell him a ticket to his own show while he was out getting a sandwich.

He bought the ticket, went to the venue, and waited. “When we created these robot characters, it seemed to become part of performance art,” he says. It played between fiction and reality. Anonymity could approach both humility and, like comic book heroes, a bit of schizophrenia between the alter ego and human side.

“Yes, I think there’s a lot of randomness and chance involved,” he says. It’s also a connection with the audience, even if there’s some distance due to the robot concept. The robot concept was a metaphor for the role of technology between utopia and dystopia. It was a constant back-and-forth, allowing them to have fun and express things.

Later in the interview, Bangalter addresses what it’s been like to drop this anonymity. He released a solo album called Mythologies in April 2023 following the duo’s breakup in 2021. “Anonymity initially stems from a desire for discretion and a lot of humility,” he says. At some point, it seemed pretentious to continue staying anonymous.

He found himself in situations where people apologised for not having photos to ensure he wouldn’t be disturbed. He wasn’t seeking attention, but the anonymity started to attract more attention than it removed. “So, after hiding for 20 years, the message about intentions and freedom has been conveyed,” he says.

“It was just an artistic gesture, and anonymity was crucial during the existence of these characters,” he says. It created an oscillation between reality and fiction. It protected him, but it could also lead to a kind of isolation, which isn’t particularly pleasant. He did consider it, but ultimately, he realised it wasn’t at the centre of his concerns.