Daft Punk would consider Brian Wilson the ultimate collaborator.

The French dance duo - Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter - would love to work with the legendary Beach Boys singer and songwriter, but are too starstruck to approach him.

Thomas, 38, told US radio station KROQ: ''I ran into him at Henson Recording Studios when they were recording the 'We Are the World' 25th anniversary [version] with Quincy Jones for the Haiti hurricane relief, but we didn't speak.

Guy, 39, added: ''I only saw his car in the parking lot of the studio, and I stopped and stared for two minutes at it.

''It would be too overwhelming to meet Brian Wilson. I think I would faint. Another time in the same parking lot I saw [Sir] Mick Jagger, but from the back, walking away. I didn't get lucky.''

The band are famed for never revealing their faces and making all public appearances dressed as robots, but while they are finding it harder and harder to stay anonymous they relish the challenge.

Thomas continued: ''It becomes like a game. The idea of anonymity is something we cherish because it's a statement. It's also the way we're living our lives, and we really like the separation between the public image and our private lives.

''At the same time, it's part of the entertainment and the mystique of the entire project we've built step-by-step, record after record.

''Having the ability to make these robots evolve and follow this journey. It's becoming more and more challenging, but so far so good.''