The Ohio House of Representatives will designate June 11 as Mojo Nixon Day through a bi-partisan resolution in a general session on Tuesday (June 11), according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website. In addition, the General Assembly of Representatives will deliver a proclamation to Nixon’s family recognizing the longtime southern Ohio resident for his contributions to the culture.
Nixon passed away Feb. 7 on the SiriusXM Outlaw Country Cruise, one day after he performed on the boat, due to a cardiac event.
“Mojo would’ve loved the idea he was one of few things Democrats and Republicans could agree on,” Nixon’s longtime manager, Scott Ambrose Reilly (a.k.a. “Bullethead”) said in a statement. “He believed in the American Dream, the idea that anyone could reinvent themselves to be their best selves…He believed humor and music were the best tools for celebrating greatness with songs like ‘Elvis Is Everywhere’ and ‘UFOs, Big Rigs & BBQ.’”
On Wednesday (June 12), the day after the resolution, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will unveil a display featuring Nixon’s favorite stage attire of daisy dukes, red Hawaiian shirt and pink Loudmouth sports jacket, plus his Dean Martin embossed Guild Starfire guitar and original handwritten lyrics to “Elvis Is Everywhere.” The event, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, is expected to be attended by his family and friends, some members of the Ohio Legislature, former bandmates and assorted indie rock royalty, according to Bullethead, who also will be in attendance.
“Mojo’s first question always was ‘Will it be fun?’” Bullethead said in a statement. “Being embraced by mainstream politics and the mainstream music business, in the state he called home for so many years, feels like he is creating subversive fun way behind enemy lines. Everyone is laying down arms and taking up the spirit of rock ‘n roll. Dead for four months and he is still figuring out how to bring out the best in everyone.”
Bullethead went on to invoke the lyrics of Nixon’s song, “You Can’t Kill Me”: “My soul raves on forever…you can put me in jail; you can kill me; you can execute me. But you can’t kill rock ’n’ roll man.”
