Canadian DJ and producer Deadmau5 has apologised after a Coachella performance that many fans described as chaotic and disappointing. Appearing under his techno alias Testpilot alongside Zhu, Deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) took to the Quasar stage visibly intoxicated. The set was cut short after he struggled to stay upright and eventually stopped the music entirely.
The following morning, he posted a hazy recap on Instagram, admitting he couldn’t remember much. “I don’t remember a thing,” he wrote, before joking about his smoking habits and signing off with, “Probably my last Coachella show.”
He followed this with a picture of his unimpressed cat, quipping that even she looked disappointed. In comments, he offered thanks to Zhu for keeping the show going and spoke about needing to “reset” — personally and creatively. He also mentioned plans to quit smoking and focus on new music.
Deadmau5 has long been a controversial figure in electronic music, known for his unfiltered comments and online behaviour. This isn’t the first time he’s faced backlash, but this incident might mark a turning point for the artist. Despite his statement, he’s still scheduled to tour through the rest of 2025.
Whether this is the end of his Coachella appearances or just another chapter in a famously unpredictable career remains to be seen.
