Mojo Nixon, the beloved alternative musician, actor, and DJ, known for his catchy 1987 hit “Elvis Is Everywhere,” has sadly passed away at the age of 66. Nixon, whose real name is Neill Kirby McMillan Jr., was found dead aboard the annual Outlaw Country Cruise, where he was a regular performer and co-host. He had just performed the night before his passing.
According to his family, Nixon’s cause of death was a cardiac event. In a heartfelt statement posted on Facebook, they said, “Mojo Nixon lived life to the fullest, just as he died. He was a rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse, always going full speed, full-throttle. After an electrifying show, a wild night, closing the bar, and enjoying a hearty breakfast with his bandmates and friends, he had a cardiac event on the Outlaw Country Cruise… and that’s just how he would have wanted it. Mojo has left the building. Since Elvis is everywhere, we know he was waiting for him in the alley out back. Heaven help us all.”
Born in North Carolina, raised in Virginia, and schooled in Ohio, Nixon began his music career in Denver as part of the punk band Zebra 123. His music was a fusion of roots music with the energy and excitement of punk rock, creating a unique and fast-paced sound. After the band disbanded, Nixon moved to San Diego and collaborated with Richard Banke (Skid Roper) to form a successful duo. They won a Battle of the Bands contest and secured a recording contract, releasing their debut album, “Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper,” in 1985.
However, Nixon’s breakthrough came with his 1987 album “Bo-Day-Shus!!!,” featuring the popular track “Elvis Is Everywhere.” The music video gained significant airplay on MTV and led him to perform on “The Arsenio Hall Show.” The infectious energy of his performance, combined with the audience wearing cardboard Elvis masks, made the song an instant hit. Nixon humorously reflected on the impact of “Elvis Is Everywhere,” saying, “Before the song, it was mostly guys attending my shows. The few women there were only there because their husbands dragged them along. But after ‘Elvis Is Everywhere,’ women started coming on their own, not coerced by their drunk husbands.”
Throughout his career, Nixon released several albums as a solo artist and collaborated with other musicians, including the Toadliquors and Jello Biafra. His music often humorously criticized pop music figures, with songs like “Don Henley Must Die,” “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child,” and “Bring Me the Head of David Geffen.” Despite his success in music, Nixon also ventured into acting, appearing in films like “Great Balls of Fire” and “Super Mario Bros.”
In later years, Nixon shifted his focus to radio and found success with local gigs in Cincinnati and San Diego before landing a job with SiriusXM. Reflecting on his career, he described himself as Richard Pryor’s “stupid cousin” playing in a rockabilly band. With his energetic performances and unabashed enthusiasm, Nixon managed to shock people while speaking the truth.
Mojo Nixon may be gone, but his music and irreverent spirit will continue to resonate with fans who remember him as a true force in the alternative music scene.
