French dance duo Daft Punk, who have thus far resisted touring in support of its hit 2013 album “Random Access Memories,” have booked at least one live date in 2014. The act was among the first wave of performers unveiled for the Jan. 26 Grammy Awards.
Other stars set to appear on the telecast are Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons. The latter two, in Grammy fashion, will be performing together.
Daft Punk, who last appeared on the Grammys in 2008 with Kanye West, looks to be spared a duet partner, at least for now. The Recording Academy is billing Daft Punk’s appearance as an “exclusive” one.
Daft Punk and Lamar are competing in the album of the year field. While it’s customary for all nominees in the category to perform at the Grammy Awards, Daft Punk cultivates an elusive persona. Persistent, unrealized tour rumors have trailed the band since last spring. When Daft Punk merely advertised “Random Access Memories” at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the act dominated the festival conversation.
Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” has sold more than 852,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. Daft Punk are nominated for four awards, including record of the year for the hit “Get Lucky.”
Lamar has seven nominations. In addition to an album of the year nod for his “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,” Lamar is up for new artist and his “Swimming Pools (Drank)” is competing for rap performance. The latter song has already been mashed-up by fans with Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive,” which garnered a nomination for record of the year, one of the act’s two Grammy nods.
Pop vocalist Pink will appear on the Grammys with Nate Ruess of the band Fun., who is featured on her Grammy-nominated single “Just Give Me a Reason.” Also announced Thursday is a Grammy segment to feature Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Blake Shelton, one that’s been tipped as paying tribute to the Texas and Oklahoma roots of the artists.
LL Cool J will return as host.
The Grammy Awards will be handed out Jan. 26 at Staples Center. They are determined by about 12,000 voting members of the Recording Academy, including musicians, producers, engineers, songwriters, record company employees and others. The eligibility period for the 2013 awards spans recordings released from Oct. 1, 2012, to Sept. 30, 2013.
