Daft Punk

Four years after the release of Discovery, Daft Punk realeased their follow up album, Human After All. The original version of the band has continued to tour and are a popular concert draw, though their recordings' success has been limited. Bangalter also teamed up with DJ Falcon to create Together, who subsequently released the club smash So Much Love To Give. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo operates his own music label, Crydamoure. Meanwhile, Michael McDonald has forged ahead with his own solo career. In 2002 he produced the motion picture soundtrack for Gaspar Noé's Irréversible. Four members of the Doobies have since passed away (percussionist Bobby LaKind in 1992, original bassist Dave Shogren in 1999, Cornelius Bumpus in 2004, and drummer Keith Knudsen in 2005). With Music Sounds Better With You, Thomas Bangalter had a major club hit in 1998, released under the name Stardust on his own Roulé-label. Eventually, Bumpus lost the case.

The album Discovery subsequentally became the soundtrack to the anime film Interstella 5555, which they co-produced with Leiji Matsumoto. Saxophonist/vocalist Cornelius Bumpus was sued by his former bandmates because Bumpus and other musicians were using the band's name. The music videos for their singles from Homework featured memorable characters and were directed by cult video producers, including Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry. But by the end of the decade the Doobies were engaged in a legal battle of their own. The duo "became" robots for all of their publicity shots and interviews. Also, Michael McDonald rejoined the band briefly in 1995. Daft Punk are notable for their use of visuals in music. New albums (many via independent labels) continued through the 1990s.

Much of Daft Punk's newer fan base knows them mainly from Discovery. They reunited with their original line-up (obviously minus lead singer Michael McDonald), released a new album (Cycles), and a new Top Ten single ("The Doctor"), and toured in 1987 to promote their new music, but the band was unable to continue their momentum. Some have interpreted the title "Discovery" as meaning "very Disco", as much of the album hearkens to the disco era; "Homework" can also be a reference to the respective album's focus, house music (Home ≈ House). The final show on that tour reunited former lead singer Tom Johnston with his former bandmates. Nevertheless, it sold very well, and the single "One More Time" was a major club hit. By 1982, the Doobie Brothers announced their imminent break-up by embarking on a "farewell tour". 2001's Discovery, with its more commercial, synth-pop-oriented style, disappointed some fans of Homework. The LP, which featured the Top Ten hit "Real Love" (not to be confused with the John Lennon composition that would later be a hit for The Beatles), was a success, but did not match the blockbuster figures of Minute by Minute.

In addition to "Da Funk", "Around the World" was the most successful single from Homework. By the beginning of the 1980s, former Moby Grape saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus joined the band as an occasional lead singer for the album One Step Closer. The album Homework (Virgin, 1996) was regarded as an innovative synthesis of techno, house, acid house and electro, and widely acknowledged as one of the most influential dance music albums of the nineties. Their hit "What a Fool Believes" won them a Grammy Award. The album also featured the first (and to date, the only) female lead vocal, from Nicolette Larson (who herself scored a hit with Neil Young's "Lotta Love"). Daft Punk's debut single The New Wave (Soma, 1993) was followed by their first commercially successful single "Da Funk" (1995). Their career peaked with the success of 1978's Minute by Minute which spent five weeks at the top of the charts and brought the group their greatest success. Its name was inspired by a review in the British music magazine Melody Maker, which described their first collaboration, a Beach Boys inspired guitar group named Darling that recorded on Stereolab's Duophonic imprint in 1992, as "a bunch of daft punk". Their new sound was further forged with their next album, Livin' On The Fault Line, which featured "Little Darlin' (I Need You)", "Echoes Of Love", and "You Belong To Me" (later a hit for Carly Simon).

Daft Punk is the main project of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (born February 8, 1974) and Thomas Bangalter (born January 3, 1975), two dance music artists from Paris. Their first album under McDonald was Takin' It To The Streets (which featured the singles "It Keeps You Runnin'" and the title cut). Virgin Records Daft Punk official website (http://www.virginrecords.com/daft_punk/). Their sound also changed, from a hard-edged guitar-filled sound to that of mellow rock (filled with keyboards and horns). Daft Punk discography on Discogs.com (http://www.discogs.com/artist/Daft+Punk). So he left the Doobies (eventually he forged his own short-lived solo career), and shortly after a new lead singer named Michael McDonald (another member of Steely Dan) was recruited to replace Johnston. Official german website (http://www.daftpunk.de/). But by 1976, lead singer Johnston grew tired of touring, and fell ill as a result.

Official website (http://www.daftpunk.com/). Their live shows had given them an energetic fanbase, primarily among the Hells Angels of Southern California. Face to Face - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, reached #1. The following year (1975), Steely Dan member Jeff Baxter (nicknamed "Skunk") joined the band as a guitarist. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, peaked at #3. These early singles continued to be hits for the next few years and eventually earned continued airplay among today's Classic Rock radio stations. Digital Love - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, peaked at #9. Under the leadership of Johnston and Simmons, the Doobies' trademark sound (a cross between heavy metal and Southern rock) helped lead the band to the Top Ten charts with such other hits as "Long Train Runnin'" & "China Grove" (from their 1973 album The Captain And Me), and "Black Water" (from 1974's What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits).

One More Time - Top 40 Tracks, peaked at #32. But it was after their next album (on which bass player Dave Shogren was replaced by Tiran Porter), Toulouse Street (which spawned the hit singles "Listen To The Music" and "Jesus Is Just Alright"), that brought the band their breakthrough success. One More Time - Top 40 Mainstream, peaked at #33. The group's 1971 self-titled debut album failed to chart. One More Time - Hot 100, peaked at #61. The band's name was taken from a slang term for the marijuana joint. One More Time - Rhythmic Top 40, reached #27. In 1970, after leaving that band, they joined up with bass player Dave Shogren and guitarist Patrick Simmons, and thus The Doobie Brothers was formed.

One More Time - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-single Sales, peaked at #2. The founding members were lead vocalist Tom Johnston and drummer John Hartman, both former members of a group called Pud. One More Time - Canadian singles chart, reached #1. They were popular throughout the 1970s. One More Time - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, reached #1. The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band, best known for hit singles like "Black Water". Revolution 909 - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, peaked at #12. Live at Wolf Trap [Live] (2004).

Da Funk - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, reached #1. Divided Highway (2003). Around the World - Hot 100, peaked at #61. Doobie's Choice (2002). Around the World - Hot Dance Music/Club Play, reached #1. Greatest Hits (2001). Interstella 5555 (Movie, DVD, 2003). On Our Way Up (2001).

- A Story about Dogs, Androids, Firemen and Tomatoes (DVD/VHS, 1999). Sibling Rivalry (2000). D.A.F.T. Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000 [Box Set] (1999). Human After All (2005). Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert [Live] (1996). Daft Club (Remix LP) (2003). Brotherhood (1991).