Deadmau5 Blacked Out During His Testpilot B2B With ZHU at Coachella and Later Addressed it With a Public Apology

During Coachella’s second weekend, one of the most buzzed-about sets was the rare B2B between ZHU and deadmau5, performing under his techno alias Testpilot, on the Quasar Stage. What was expected to be an unforgettable moment quickly took an unexpected turn when Joel Zimmerman reportedly had a bit too much to drink before hitting the decks.

The set was cut short on Friday night, with Zimmerman being assisted off the stage mid-performance. Fans captured footage of the unusual situation, including awkward transitions and Joel slurring into the mic—moments that quickly made their way across social media.

Not long after, deadmau5 addressed the night on Instagram with a photo of a water bottle and a caption that read, “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.” Later on, he followed up with a picture of his cat, adding a light-hearted apology and giving credit to ZHU for keeping the set alive.

Fans reacted with a mix of humor and support in the comments, understanding that things like this can happen—especially in the nightlife world. Despite the rough night, the community seemed more entertained than upset.

Now the hope is that we’ll get another shot at this ZHU x Testpilot combo sometime soon—one where we can fully experience the energy and creativity they’re capable of when everything goes right.