Alternative Musician Mojo Nixon Dies Onboard Outlaw Country Cruise at Age 66

Alternative musician Mojo Nixon, best known for his hit song “Elvis Is Everywhere,” has tragically passed away at the age of 66. The artist, whose real name was 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, making this news even more shocking.

According to his family, Nixon suffered a cardiac event, leading to his untimely death. In a statement released on his Facebook page, they mournfully shared, “Mojo Nixon was full-tilt, wide-open rock hard, root hog, corner on two wheels + on fire… Passing after a blazing show, a raging night, closing the bar, taking no prisoners + a good breakfast with bandmates and friends. A cardiac event on the Outlaw Country Cruise is about right… & that’s just how he did 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 and raised in Virginia, Nixon began his musical journey as a member of the punk band Zebra 123. He then moved to San Diego where he joined forces with Country Dick Montana’s band, the Snuggle Bunnies. In the mid-80s, Nixon and his collaborator Skid Roper won a Battle of the Bands contest and caught the attention of indie label Enigma records. They released their debut self-titled album in 1985 and achieved widespread recognition with their 1987 album “Bo-Day-Shus!!!,” which featured the iconic track “Elvis Is Everywhere.”

Throughout his career, Nixon recorded several albums both as a solo artist and with other collaborators such as the Toadliquors and Jello Biafra. His music, a unique blend of punk and rockabilly, often parodied pop culture 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.”

In addition to his music career, Nixon also delved into acting, appearing in films such as “Great Balls of Fire” as drummer James Van Eaton, the live-action “Super Mario Bros.” film, and the reboot of “Car 54 Where Are You.” He later transitioned to radio, hosting shows in Cincinnati and San Diego before joining SiriusXM.

Summing up his career, Nixon once said, “Mojo Nixon wanted to be Richard Pryor. He’s like Richard Pryor’s stupid cousin if he was white and played in a rockabilly band.” He was known for his bold and enthusiastic approach, with an ‘unlimited supply’ of energy.