Who Was Mojo Nixon? Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Parents, Death Cause, Obituary
Mojo Nixon was a musician, actor, and radio host who became an underground sensation with his humorous and irreverent songs that blended rockabilly, punk, and country. He was best known for his 1987 novelty hit “Elvis Is Everywhere”, which celebrated the omnipresence of the King of Rock and Roll. He also made fun of various celebrities and pop culture figures, such as Don Henley, Debbie Gibson, and Martha Quinn, in his satirical tunes. He died on February 7, 2024, at the age of 66, after suffering a cardiac event on the Outlaw Country Cruise, where he was a regular performer and co-host.
Mojo Nixon Wiki/Bio
| Name | Mojo Nixon |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. |
| Born | August 2, 1957 |
| Died | February 7, 2024 |
| Age | 66 |
| Birthplace | Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Occupation | Musician, actor, radio host |
| Genre | Rockabilly, cowpunk, psychobilly |
| Years active | 1985–2024 |
| Labels | Enigma, Needletime, Shanachie |
| Website | mojonixon.com |
| Spouse | Adaire McMillan |
| Children | Rafe Cannonball McMillan, Ruben McMillan |
| Grandchildren | Avery Frances McMillan |
| Siblings | Jane Holden McMillan, Arthur Reese McMillan |
| Parents | Neill Kirby McMillan Sr., Mary Theresa McMillan |
| Death cause | Cardiac event |
| Notable songs | “Elvis Is Everywhere”, “Don Henley Must Die”, “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child” |
| Notable films | Great Balls of Fire, Super Mario Bros., Car 54, Where Are You? |
| Notable radio shows | The Beat Farmers Happy Hour, Loon in the Afternoon, The Mojo Nixon Show |
| Links | Wikipedia- @Mojo_Nixon IMDB- @nm0633264 Homepage- Newsunzip |
Birthday, Parents, Education, Siblings
Mojo Nixon was born as Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. on August 2, 1957 (Age: 66 years, when died), in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He grew up in Danville, Virginia, where he developed a love for music, especially rock and roll, blues, and country. He attended Miami University in Ohio, where he studied political science and journalism.
He also played in various bands, such as Zebra 123, a punk group that he formed in Denver, Colorado. He had a sister, Jane Holden McMillan, and a brother, Arthur Reese McMillan. His parents were Neill Kirby McMillan Sr. and Mary Theresa McMillan.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches
- Weight: 89 kg
- Eye color: Brown
Career
In the early 1980s, he moved to San Diego, California, where he met Skid Roper, a multi-instrumentalist who played washboard, harmonica, and mandolin. The duo started performing together, creating a unique sound that they called “psychobilly”, a fusion of rockabilly and punk. They released their first album, Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, in 1985, on Enigma Records. The album featured the song “Jesus at McDonald’s”, which was their first single.
Their breakthrough came with their third album, Bo-Day-Shus!!!, in 1987, which included the song “Elvis Is Everywhere”. The song was a tribute to Elvis Presley, who Nixon considered to be one of his personal gods, along with Foghorn Leghorn and Otis Campbell. The song’s video, which showed Nixon and Roper wearing Elvis masks and visiting various landmarks associated with the King, became a hit on MTV and earned them a spot on The Arsenio Hall Show.
Nixon and Roper continued to release albums throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as Root Hog or Die, Frenzy, and Horny Holidays. They also recorded songs for various compilations, such as Rat Music for Rat People and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 soundtrack. Their songs often poked fun at popular culture and celebrities, such as “Stuffin’ Martha’s Muffin”, which was about MTV VJ Martha Quinn, and “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child”, which was about pop singers Debbie Gibson and Rick Astley.
He also had a feud with Don Henley, the former Eagles singer, whom he criticized for his environmental activism and his music. He released a song called “Don Henley Must Die”, which provoked Henley to confront Nixon on stage during a show in Austin, Texas, in 1992. The two eventually reconciled and sang the song together.
Acting and Radio Career
Besides music, Mojo Nixon also pursued an acting career. He made his debut in the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire, a biopic of Jerry Lee Lewis, where he played the role of drummer James Van Eaton. He also appeared in the 1993 film Super Mario Bros., based on the video game franchise, where he played the role of Toad, a rebel leader. He also had roles in other films, such as Car 54, Where Are You?, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School Forever, and Buttcrack.
In the mid-1990s, Nixon retired from music and focused on his radio career. He worked as a DJ in various stations, such as WEBN in Cincinnati, Ohio, and KGB-FM in San Diego, California. He also hosted a syndicated show called The Beat Farmers Happy Hour, which featured his former bandmate Country Dick Montana, who died in 1995. In 2004, he joined Sirius Satellite Radio, where he hosted a show called Loon in the Afternoon on the Outlaw Country channel. He also co-hosted a show called The Mojo Nixon Show on the Raw Dog Comedy channel, where he interviewed various comedians and celebrities.
Wife, Kids
Nixon was married to Adaire McMillan, a photographer and artist. They had two sons, Rafe Cannonball McMillan and Ruben McMillan. He also had a granddaughter, Avery Frances McMillan. His wife’s details will be updated later as his wife has not appeared in any interview after Mojo’s death.
How Did Mojo Nixon Die?
Mojo Nixon died on February 7, 2024, while on the Outlaw Country Cruise, a music festival on a ship that featured artists such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Shooter Jennings, and Elizabeth Cook. He was a regular performer and co-host on the cruise, and he had played a show with his band the Toadliquors the night before. He was found dead in his cabin the next morning, and the cause of death was determined to be a cardiac event, according to his family.
His family stated on his Facebook page, saying: “August 2, 1957 – February 7, 2024 Mojo Nixon. How you live is how you should die. He 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, he has left the building. Since Elvis is everywhere, we know he was waiting for him in the alley out back. Heaven help us all.”
Antiestablishment musician, Mojo Nixon, of “🔥 b*urn down the malls” fame #DiedSuddenly on a country music cruise at just 66.
— Erin Elizabeth Health Nut News 🙌 (@unhealthytruth) February 8, 2024
I had the honor to see him live when I was just a kid.
Reportedly, he was fully vaccinated. 😔🙏 RIP. #CountryPunk #Alternative #Gorka #MojoNixon pic.twitter.com/60MRCw6Qun
His death was met with shock and sadness by his fans and fellow musicians, who paid tribute to him on social media and in interviews. Steve Earle, who was on the cruise with him, said: “Mojo was one of the funniest people I ever met. He was also one of the most fearless. He said whatever he wanted to say, whenever he wanted to say it, and he didn’t care who heard it.
He was a true original, and I’m going to miss him a lot.” Lucinda Williams, who also performed on the cruise, said: “He was a dear friend and a musical inspiration. He had a way of making you laugh and making you think at the same time. He was a rebel and a visionary, and he will always be in my heart.”
Legacy and Influence
Nixon was a cult hero and an influential figure in the alternative music scene. He was known for his outrageous and humorous songs, his energetic and irreverent performances, and his outspoken and controversial opinions. He was also a champion of free speech and an opponent of censorship, as he demonstrated in his debate with Pat Buchanan on CNN’s Crossfire in the 1990s. He was admired by many musicians, such as Jello Biafra, John Lydon, and Dave Grohl, who covered some of his songs. He was also a mentor and a friend to many artists, such as Mojo Gurus, Supersuckers, and Reverend Horton Heat.
A documentary about his life and career, titled The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon, was released in 2020. The film featured interviews with Mojo and his collaborators, as well as archival footage and rare performances. The film also included a box set of his music, which contained 10 CDs and a DVD.
Nixon was a unique and unforgettable personality, who left a lasting mark on the world of music and entertainment. He will be remembered for his humor, his passion, and his spirit. As he once said, “I firmly believe you can make fun of anything as long as your joke is funny. And I also believe that you can say anything, as long as you’re willing to suffer the consequences. We don’t need a thought police.” He was a true outlaw, a rebel, and a legend.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.03 million |
| 2022 | $1.5 million |
| 2021 | $100,000 – $1 million |
