Mojo Nixon was an irreverent, tongue-in-cheek psychobilly singer and songwriter known for pop culture-skewering songs like “Elvis is Everywhere” and “Don Henley Must Die,” and for being name-dropped in the Dead Milkmen cult favorite, “Punk Rock Girl.”
- Died: February 7, 2024 (Who else died on February 7?)
- Details of death: Died while on a cruise of a cardiac event at the age of 66.
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Mojo Nixon’s legacy
Born Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. but better known by his stage name, Mojo Nixon, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina-born singer bounced from city to city in his youth. He eventually ended up in Denver, where he formed his first band, Zebra 123. It was, in his words, “Jerry Lee Lewis on more speed,” a blending of traditional rock ‘n roll, American roots music, and a punk rock spirit.
In San Diego, he paired up with Richard Banke, better known by his stage name, Skid Roper. The pair merged outlaw country, rockabilly, a punk attitude, and a lot of humor into a collection of novelty songs released in 1985, “Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper.” The album’s opener, “Elvis is Everywhere,” became a minor cult hit, landing the pair on MTV and the “Arsenio Hall Show.” Releasing six albums in six years, the pair often skewered pop culture – songs like “Don Henley Must Die” and “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child” earned them notoriety and were also removed from radio and TV. In 1988, he was famously name-checked in the cult classic by the Dead Milkmen, “Punk Rock Girl.”
In 1989, Nixon began an acting career outside his music, appearing as drummer James Van Eaton in the Jerry Lee Lewis (1935– 2022) biopic, “Great Balls of Fire,” and in such movies as the 1993 “Super Mario Bros.” adaptation. In the 2000s, he became a DJ and host on Sirius Satellite Radio, hosting several shows, including “The Loon in the Afternoon.”
Notable quote
“Musically, we’re playing loud, fast Chuck Berry songs. That’s what the Stones were doing, too. We’re just following in the footsteps of playing American rock ‘n roll party music. People came not just for the music, but all of the BS that I would say in between. Like, ‘I can’t believe what the hell he just said.’”—from a March 2022 interview for 360° Sound
Tributes to Mojo Nixon
Full obituary: The New York Times
