Mojo Nixon, Rocker Behind “Elvis Is Everywhere,” Dies at 66 on Outlaw Country Cruise

Mojo Nixon, the unpredictable rock and curler behind the 1987 MTV-favorite novelty track “Elvis Is In all places,” died Wednesday. He was 66.

Based on a press release on his Fb web page, Nixon, whose actual title was Neill Kirby McMillan Jr, died after struggling a “cardiac occasion” throughout an Outlaw Nation Cruise on which he was a performer.

“How you reside is how it’s best to die,” the Fb submit reads. “Mojo Nixon was full-tilt, wide-open rock exhausting, root hog, nook on two wheels + on hearth… Passing after a blazing present, a raging night time, closing the bar, taking no prisoners + a very good breakfast with bandmates and buddies. A cardiac occasion on the Outlaw Nation Cruise is about proper… & that’s simply how he did it. Mojo has left the constructing. Since Elvis is in every single place, we all know he was ready for him within the alley out again. Heaven assist us all.”

Nixon had left on the Outlaw Nation Cruise along with his band The Toadliquors out of Miami on Sunday. Different performers on the cruise embrace Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams. Along with performing, Nixon additionally recorded a SiriusXM Session at Sea with the band 49 Winchester, in his different position as a SiriusXM host on the present Loon within the Afternoon on Steven Van Zandt’s Outlaw Nation channel.

Born in North Carolina in 1957, Nixon made his technique to California within the early ’80s and teamed up with musician Skid Roper, with whom he launched six albums between 1985 and 1990. Roper performed washboard whereas Nixon performed guitar and sang his personal lyrics. Their 1987 venture Bo-Day-Shus!!!, which included “Elvis Is In all places,” peaked at No. 187 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Nixon additionally hit the Billboard charts with “Don Henley Should Die” — a savage track that takes intention on the Eagles frontman from his 1990 solo album Otis — which was a No. 20 hit on Various Airplay.

In an interview with the Austin Chronicle, Nixon recalled the night time when Henley himself confirmed up at his gig at Austin, Texas’ Gap within the Wall venue in 1992 and requested to hitch him onstage. “He was shit-faced and he goes, ‘I wish to sing that track, particularly the half about not getting along with Glenn Frey!’” Nixon mentioned. “He was beltin’ that shit out, screaming like he was Johnny fuckin’ Rotten.”

Along with his music profession, Nixon additionally labored as an actor, showing within the 1989 Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Nice Balls of Fireplace! and starring as Toad within the 1993 Tremendous Mario Bros. film.

A documentary about Nixon, The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Occasions of Mojo Nixon, debuted on the 2022 South by Southwest movie competition and was launched digitally in March of final yr.

This story first appeared on Billboard.com.