He might not be a household name like Black Eyed Peas or Coldplay, but Toronto-based musician Joel Zimmerman has a worldwide reputation. As Deadmau5 (pronounced "dead mouse"), Zimmerman records brash dance music, and commands $100,000 US per show. He has over 2.5 million Facebook friends. In the realm of techno, he's the closest thing there is to a superstar.

Deadmau5 is scheduled to play a sold-out show in Toronto on Nov. 5.

Janet Thomson interviewed Zimmerman at his Toronto penthouse, where he held forth on his craft, his musical persona and that weird mouse mask of his.