DJ Deadmau5 has publicly apologized to his fans following his controversial performance at Coachella last week, where he appeared intoxicated. The Canadian electronic music artist, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, took to Instagram on Saturday, April 19, 2025, to acknowledge his condition during the set, confessing that he has no recollection of the event.
Incident at Coachella: A Night to Forget
During his return to the Quasar stage on Friday, April 18, Deadmau5 shared the spotlight with his alter ego Testpilot and fellow musician Zhu. However, reports from Variety indicate that the iconic DJ’s performance was cut short due to his visibly inebriated state, characterized by slurred speech and unstable movements.
Regret and Reflections
In a series of Instagram posts, Deadmau5 expressed his regret about the situation, sharing a playful post that included a photo of a water bottle. He humorously noted:
“I dont remember a thing. But I don’t think I had a cig? So… that’s good I guess? Going back to bed. Wake me up around Thursday ish.”
Stage Drama: A Disrupted Performance
According to eyewitness accounts, Deadmau5 indulged in several drinks, leading to a decline in his ability to perform. Videos captured moments of him spraying Silly String on Zhu while the latter was attempting to DJ. Moments later, the situation escalated when Deadmau5 stumbled and fell behind the DJ booth, necessitating intervention from bouncers to escort him off the stage.
His Farewell to Coachella?
In a candid comment on his Instagram post, the DJ hinted that this might be his final appearance at Coachella. He further depicted his feelings of disappointment in a subsequent post, sharing a picture of his cat and saying that even she would have been let down by his actions. He also noted:
“TO BE FAIR, I felt the first 3/4 was great! Huge shout out to @zhu for introducing me to whisky and carrying my d*mb a** till the bitter end.”
Support from Peers
Following the incident, fellow artists like Claude VonStroke and Taylor Torrence quickly rallied to support Deadmau5, commenting on the pressures performers face and expressing that every artist has encountered at least “one bad show.”
Coachella’s Vibrant Lineup
Despite the drama, Deadmau5 and Zhu were among many high-profile performances at Coachella, where the Quasar stage also featured renowned acts such as Kaskade, Idris Elba, Alesso, and Gorgon City.
Looking Back: The Humor in Music
Interestingly, Deadmau5 had previously drawn headlines for his humorous take on live performances, such as when he teased Grimes for her technical difficulties during last year’s festival. In a June 2024 interview, he mentioned:
“It’s just fun, OK? And heaven forbid we have a little fun, some screaming and some laughs at a music festival. It’d be really weird if we didn’t. It’d be very unmemorable if we were all very serious.”
About Deadmau5
Deadmau5, pronounced “dead mouse,” is a celebrated Canadian DJ and music producer known predominantly for his house music tracks, although he frequently explores other genres as Testpilot. He came into the spotlight in 2008 with the release of his album Random Album Title, which earned him multiple Juno Awards, solidifying his impact on the electronic music scene.
Upcoming Performances
Currently, Deadmau5 is busy with a residency at XS Nightclub in Las Vegas and has upcoming performances slated for Junction 2 in London, the North Coast Music Festival in Chicago, and Elements in Pennsylvania this July.