A musician and producer recalls discovering Les Inrockuptibles as a teenager with his lifelong friend, and how the publication later offered warm support to the electronic music duo Daft Punk. He doesn’t remember exactly when he first saw a copy of Les Inrockuptibles, but it was likely on display at Fnac des Ternes, a popular electronics and media store in Paris. As teenagers, he and his friend spent their free afternoons there or at the Beaubourg library, often reading English music magazines like NME and Melody Maker. They would dream of traveling to London by Eurolines bus and ferry, staying at a youth hostel in Bagnolet, near the Noel Street area. It was through Les Inrockuptibles that the musician realized there were people in France who shared his love for the same bands. The magazine’s Minitel 3615 Ness forum and its associated festival became important touchpoints in his musical journey. Years later, when Daft Punk released their debut album Homework in 1997, Les Inrockuptibles gave it a negative review. Like Melody Maker, which inspired the name Daft Punk, the musician felt this early criticism had a strange kind of luck, almost like a seal of authenticity. Despite the initial negative review, the musician remained a devoted reader of Les Inrockuptibles and was impressed by the magazine’s continued support of Daft Punk’s later albums. He notes that the publication’s 40th anniversary edition features testimonies from over 250 artists and cultural figures who share their memories of Les Inrockuptibles. This special issue highlights the magazine’s long-standing influence and the deep connections it has forged with the music and cultural world over four decades.