Deadmau5 and ZHU’s inebriation cuts Coachella set short

During Weekend Two at Coachella, Deadmau5 and Zhu had to end their set abruptly due to public intoxication among the artists.

At Weekend Two of Coachella 2025, the eagerly awaited back-to-back performance by electronic music legends Deadmau5 and ZHU came to a harsh end due to apparent intoxication. During their show on April 18 at the Quasar stage, Deadmau5, who was performing under his techno alias Testpilot, seemed noticeably drunk. Video footage from the event captures both artists drinking on stage, with Deadmau5 having trouble keeping his balance before he eventually halted the music. He told the audience, “They were actually like, ‘That’s it!'” before being led off the stage.
The day after, Deadmau5 went on Instagram to discuss the incident, sharing a photo of a water bottle along with the caption, “I don’t remember a thing. But I don’t think I had a cigarette? So… that’s good, I guess? Going back to bed. Wake me up around Thursday-ish.” In the comments, he noted, “Probably my last Coachella show.” ZHU made a lighthearted comment referencing his Blacklizt alias, to which Deadmau5 responded, “Dude… that whisky. I can’t. Lol.”

In a later post, Deadmau5 uploaded a picture of his cat, who appeared to be let down by his performance. He expressed his regret by saying, “Sorry about last night. Lol,” and expressed gratitude to ZHU for “introducing me to whisky and carrying my …” He also indicated his intention to quit smoking, reset his life, and focus on creating new music.

This occurrence adds to Deadmau5’s reputation for being candid and controversial within the EDM community. Known for his forthright personality, he has previously voiced criticism about the commercialization of music festivals and questioned the sustainability of the EDM genre. Despite this incident, Deadmau5 has a series of tour dates lined up across North America and Europe through November 2025.

As fans and the industry reflect on this surprising turn of events, the incident highlights the pressures faced by artists in the public eye. While Deadmau5’s future involvement at Coachella is unclear, his dedication to personal development and new music provides a glimmer of hope for redemption.

Featured Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

About The Author

Emilee Gabbard

My name is Emilee Gabbard. I currently live in sunny Orange County, CA. By day I am a project manager working in the aerospace industry, but by night a music blogger for yours truly, Exron Music! I have been writing for Exron Music for around eight months now and cannot wait to see what is to come throughout the years. At festivals and clubs, you will find me at any house and techno stage supporting my favorites Eli Brown or Dom Dolla, or belting every word to Porter Robinson tracks wherever he performs.

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