Mojo Nixon

Biography

Neill Kirby McMillan Jr., professionally known as Mojo Nixon, was born on August 2, 1957, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He burst onto the music scene in the early 1980s in San Diego, where he partnered with Skid Roper to create a distinctive blend of rockabilly, punk, and country that he dubbed "psychobilly." Nixon and Roper released their debut album in 1985 on Enigma Records, establishing themselves as provocative satirists of contemporary culture. Their third album, 1987's Bo-Day-Shus!!!, featured "Elvis Is Everywhere," a deification of Elvis Presley that became Nixon's signature song and an alternative staple on MTV, cementing his status as a cult icon.

Throughout the late 1980s, Nixon and Roper produced satirical pieces lampooning celebrities and American culture, including controversial songs like "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child" and "Don Henley Must Die." After parting ways with Roper in late 1989, Nixon pursued a solo career, releasing Otis in 1990. When Enigma Records went bankrupt shortly after, much of his early catalog fell into legal limbo. During the 1990s, Nixon continued recording with various backup bands, most notably the Toadliquors, while also collaborating with notable artists including Jello Biafra and members of the Beat Farmers. He appeared in several films and voiced characters in video games, including Redneck Rampage (1997).

Nixon's later career saw him announce an "unretirement" in October 2009 with the release of Whiskey Rebellion, a collection of previously unreleased tracks. He also hosted The Loon in the Afternoon radio show on Sirius XM's Outlaw Country channel. Nixon passed away on February 7, 2024, leaving behind a legacy as a provocative psychobilly pioneer who blended musical genres with irreverent humor and social commentary.

Fun Facts

• Nixon's personal religious trinity consisted of Elvis Presley, Foghorn Leghorn (the cartoon character), and Otis Campbell (a character from The Andy Griffith Show), reflecting his unique blend of pop culture reverence and absurdist humor.
• He voiced Sheriff Lester T. Hobbes in the 1997 computer game Redneck Rampage, which featured a licensed psychobilly soundtrack including two of his songs and a promotional music video.
• In 2009, Nixon announced his "unretirement" by claiming he found previously unreleased tracks in "an old shoe box full of cassette tapes" under his front porch, which became the album Whiskey Rebellion.
• MTV severed ties with Nixon after the network refused to air the video for "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child," demonstrating the controversial nature of his satirical approach to pop culture commentary.

Associated Acts

• Mojo Nixon & the Toadliquors - eponymous, original
• The Crawdaddys - original
• Mojo Nixon & the Second Edition - eponymous, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Elvis Presley - Major stylistic and spiritual influence; Nixon declared Presley part of his personal religious trinity alongside Foghorn Leghorn and Otis Campbell ("Elvis Is Everywhere" (1987)) [1980s-2024]

Key Collaborators

• Skid Roper - Primary musical partner who provided instrumental backup to Nixon's vocals; formed the core duo of early psychobilly work (Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper (1985), Bo-Day-Shus!!! (1987), multiple albums through late 1980s) [1982-1989]
• Jello Biafra - Collaborative album partner; worked together on experimental psychobilly/punk fusion (Prairie Home Invasion) [1990s]
• Dave Alvin - Collaborator on mid-1990s albums; contributed to Nixon's country-rock fusion sound (Mid-1990s collaborative albums) [1990s]
• Beat Farmers members (including Buddy 'Blue' Seigal and Country Dick Montana) - Collaborated on live recordings and studio work; Country Dick Montana was a close friend whose death in 1995 was eulogized on Nixon's 1999 album (Live in Las Vegas by the Pleasure Barons) [1990s]
• Sylvia Massy - Producer who recorded Nixon and Roper in San Francisco during early years (Rat Music For Rat People compilation album) [1980s]
• The Toadliquors - Backup band for Nixon's solo work throughout the 1990s (Multiple 1990s albums) [1990s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Are You Drinkin' With Me Jesus (Prairie Home Invasion)
2. Tie My Pecker to My Leg (Whereabouts Unknown)
3. Elvis is Everywhere (Bo-Day-Shus!!!)
4. Love Me, I'm a Liberal (Prairie Home Invasion)
5. Plastic Jesus (Prairie Home Invasion)
6. Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two Headed Love Child (Root Hog or Die)
7. Will the Fetus be Aborted (Prairie Home Invasion)
8. You Can't Kill Me (Whereabouts Unknown)
9. Ufo's Big Rigs & Bbq (Gadzooks!!! The Homemade Bootleg)
10. Convoy in the Sky (Prairie Home Invasion)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #cowpunk, #psychobilly