Sin City, Las Vegas, known for its lavish and otherworldly hedonism was the epicentre of a two-hundred-thousand dollar controversy between leading DJ/Producer Deadmau5, William Morris Endeavor, and High-Roller Don Johnson. Perhaps the most absurd part about this story which unfolded at the wildly popular Wynn based XS nightclub, is the not so important subject; that is of course a single song request.

You read that right, a song request led to a high-dollar showdown between an infamous Vegas ‘baller’ and one of the world’s biggest DJs. What’s more ridiculous is that the song in question is none other than Bon Jovi‘s ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’.

The story goes back to February 21, 2011, Deadmau5 was going about his business and spinning his usual mind-blowing tunes at the club XS in Vegas and in attendance was Don Johnson, CEO of Heritage Development, who surely is someone who could easily pay $200,000 to have a song played.

Now for the uninitiated, the talent agency, William Morris Endeavor, represents Deadmau5 and on the night of the incident, a WME agent, also named Joel Zimmerman (not to be confused with Deadmau5’s real name), met with Jesse Waits, co-owner and managing partner at XS, and met Johnson. Johnson made an offer to Zimmerman that if Deadmau5 played a certain song he wanted, then he would pay him $200,000. Following this, Deadmau5 agreed and Waits told Zimmerman that Johnson could be trusted to pay the DJ if the deal went down. As was expected, it did but the payment wasn’t made.

For Johnson, who was at the blackjack tables after the show and was losing badly mind you, he asked his security to remove Waits and Zimmerman from his sight when they came to collect the money owed after the show and Johnson left Vegas the next day.

Now we all know that Deadmau5 is an outspoken person and one who doesn’t hold back when you toe the line with him. Additionally, WME’s main job is to keep their clients happy, especially since they have signed on many noteworthy artists and in all honesty their revenue helps the agency a lot. Waits told Zimmerman that he would pay $50,000 of the $200,000 owed and that WME would take care of the remaining $150,000. All of this transpired in 2011.

Moving ahead to June 2013, with Waits suing Zimmerman for failing to repay a $50,000 loan, the main issue is that WME is angry at Waits for relying on Johnson and trusting him to pay the $200,000 with no written proof. However, news is that currently, at the moment, both parties are reaching settlements.

Now for some levity, here’s Deadmau5 dancing to “Livin’ On A Prayer” and Johnson on stage with him on the right, check it out now!