Mojo Nixon, a renowned personality in the realm of rock and novelty music, passed away on Wednesday, February 7 at the age of 66. He was best known for his 1987 MTV hit song, “Elvis Is Everywhere“.
Born Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. in 1957, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Nixon left a significant imprint in the music industry with his singular blend of humor and rock.
His death took place on the Outlaw Country Cruise, a scenario that seemed fitting for the singer, who was known for his full-on lifestyle. A statement on his Facebook page mentioned that Nixon suffered an unspecified “cardiac event” while on the cruise. He was performing with his band, The Toadliquors, and other artists such as Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams at the time of his death.
Prior to his death, Nixon recorded a SiriusXM Session at Sea with the band 49 Winchester. This highlighted his skills not only as a performer but also in his role as a host on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel.
After moving to California in the early 1980s, Nixon’s music career took off when he joined forces with Skid Roper. They released six albums between 1985 and 1990. Their project “Bo-Day-Shus!!!” featuring “Elvis Is Everywhere,” peaked at No. 187 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Nixon also had a hit song in 1990 titled “Don Henley Must Die” on his album “Otis”, which was well received on Alternative Airplay.
Nixon experienced a notable moment in his career when Don Henley, the subject of Nixon’s satirical song, requested to sing the very song during a gig in Austin, Texas, in 1992. Nixon remembered the event with humor, noting Henley’s eager participation.
Besides his music, Nixon also ventured into acting, appearing in the 1989 film “Great Balls of Fire!” about Jerry Lee Lewis and portrayed Toad in the 1993 “Super Mario Bros.” movie. His life and career were documented in “The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon,” which premiered at the 2022 South by Southwest film festival.
With Nixon’s demise, the music industry has lost a unique figure, who was remembered not just for his songs but also for his vivid personality and his approach to living life by his rules. His contributions as a musician and a SiriusXM host continue to resonate with fans of all ages, highlighting the influence he exerted on the music industry and beyond.
Tributes continue to flow in, underlining Nixon’s enduring legacy, a tribute to a life lived with zeal and a career that broke conventional norms. Even though the journey of the “Elvis Is Everywhere” singer has concluded, his music and the memories he created with fans and fellow artists will continue to uphold the spirit of an artist who lived life his way.
