Deadmau5 performs at the Quasar stage at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 19, 2025 in Indio, California.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Performing as his alter-ego Testpilot on Friday night, Deadmau5‘s back-to-back Coachella set with ZHU was cut short after the electronic artist got visibly intoxicated behind the booth.
Deadmau5 was performing at the Quasar stage, a rave-forward set-up that featured multiple lengthy, b2b DJ performances throughout the weekend. Deadmau5, as Testpilot, performed alongside ZHU and, according to We Rave You, the set quickly exploded into disaster. Deadmau5 was drinking heavily as his mixing progressively, and uncharacteristically, worsened. He appeared to stop playing at some points and was slurring his words into the microphone. He was also seen antagonizing ZHU, spraying silly string on him while he was trying to perform.
“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,” Deadmau5 wrote on Instagram over the weekend. The caption accompanied a picture of a bottle of water. “Probably my last Coachella show,” he added in the comments. ZHU also seemed to have a sense of humor about it at the time, commenting “Blackout at Blacklizt,” referencing his own alter-ego.
Deadmau5 posted again later on Saturday, this time even more regretful of his behavior on Friday night. He shared a picture of his cat with an apology in the caption. “Man, even my cat is disappointed in me,” he said. “Tho, it could be argued that she always has been. sorry about last night. Lol. TO BE FAIR, I felt the first 3/4 was great!”
He went on to say that he would quit smoking and do some “personal resetting here at home.” He will also be working on new music.
From Rolling Stone US.
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