Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter Performs First DJ Set in 16 Years Without Helmet in Paris

Thomas Bangalter, one half of the legendary Daft Punk duo, made a surprise return to DJing for the first time in 16 years at a back-to-back set with Fred Again.., Erol Alkan, and Pedro Winter at Paris's Centre Pompidou. This unannounced performance was part of the 20th anniversary celebration of French record label Because Music and also marked the venue's last night before a five-year renovation. Bangalter played several Daft Punk classics like "Digital Love" and "Rollin' & Scratchin'" and performed without his iconic helmet for the first time in over two decades. Fred Again.. shared that Bangalter revealed he first fell in love with electronic music in the Pompidou building in 1992 and had not played a proper set without the mask in 24 years. The event symbolized a reconnection of French electronic music’s legacy with the current scene, highlighting Bangalter's enduring influence. Bangalter last appeared live with Daft Punk in 2017 during The Weeknd's Grammy Awards performance, and since the duo's split in 2021, he has pursued solo projects such as his orchestral album "Mythologies."