French multi-instrumentalists Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo — who some credit with the “birth of EDM” — announced their retirement on Monday morning in an eight-minute video dubbed “Epilogue,” shared on their digital media platforms. The group’s longtime publicist Kathryn Frazier confirmed the split to Variety reporters, declining to provide additional comments.
The video features the pair in the dimly lit desert wearing their signature space helmets, which have concealed their identities for virtually their entire careers, and matching black jackets bearing their brand.
The enigmatic duo, who came together as Daft Punk in 1993, has maintained a remarkably low profile despite their longevity and a global cult-like fan base. Their music has been sampled by a number of popular mainstream artists, including 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, Will.i.am, Machine Gun Kelly and perhaps most notably in Kanye West’s “Stronger.” The versatile artists were also tapped to compose the score for Disney’s “Tron: Legacy” in 2010.