GMO8

"GMO8" and "TB3" are the self-referential robotic alter-egos and designations used by Daft Punk members Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. While the digits in the names do not have a confirmed meaning, the story of how Daft Punk became robots is part of the duo's elaborate mythology. According to an origin story the band provided to Cartoon Network in 2004, the pair was working in their home studio on September 9, 1999 (9/9/99) when a flash of light turned them into robots.The event erased all of their musical work in progress, forcing them to start over in their new robotic forms. This transformation coincided with the release of their second album, Discovery, which adopted a slicker, more synth-pop style, a departure from their previous album, Homework. The robot personas were part of the duo's response to fame. They stated that they "don't believe in the star system" and wanted to focus on the music rather than their faces. The helmets allowed them to create an "artificial image" that celebrated technology while hiding their physical appearance.