Joel Thomas Zimmerman (born January 5, 1981), better known by his stage name deadmau5 (pronounced "dead mouse"), is a Canadian progressive, electro, and house producer based in Toronto. He is known for often performing in a titular costume head, which resembles a mouse head that he originally created while learning to use a 3D program. The so-called "Mau5head" appears in many different colors and designs, and has been shown on the cover of most of deadmau5's albums.