MOJO NIXON
« Whereabouts Unknown
»
8-2-57 Mojo Nixon born in Chapel
Hill, NC
7-4-62 Nixon Family moves to Danville, VA
2-8-64 Nixon gets his first LP, Meet The Beatles, and
is convinced that I Saw Her Standing There actually begins "1-2-3-FUCK!"
3-28-67 Mojo hears Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley on
his father's radio station (WILA, "The Black Spot On Your
Dial"). Music claims his soul and Satan crawls up his butt.
6-10-70 Nixon hears Velvet Underground's Sister Ray and
smokes pot for the first time at a Methodist Youth Fellowship
weekend retreat.
6-14-71 14 year old Nixon arrested for protesting leash
law at City Hall. Wears shirt procaliming the slogan "FREE
THE DOGS". Nixon spends time in the back of a police car
humming MC5 songs and threatening to kill the mayor.
6-15-71 Nixon's father handcuffs him to the lawnmower
until both front and back yards are mowed.
4-5-72 Nixon begins "practicing" drums in basement.
This causes his 76 year old grandmother to beg to be taken to
a nursing home.
8-2-72 For his 15th Birthday, Big Daddy Nixon takes him
to see a Richard Pryor movie where the joys of the word "Mother
Fucker" are discovered.
10-13-73 Nixon goes to see Led Zeppelin at Greensboro
Coliseum and for the first time sees the pot-smoking beer-sucking
denim-clad rock army.
8-2-74 While on a family vacation Nixon plays Elvis' Promised
Land 14 consecutive times on a diner jukebox. All the while his
parents try to use his 17th Birthday as an excuse to talk to
him about his future.
9-4-75 Nixon begins college at Miami University. It was
the furthest college away from his hometown that accepted him.
Frampton Comes Alive is the #1 album in America. Nixon is secretly
listening to Patti Smith's Gloria over and over again.
4-21-76 While listening to Blue Oyster Cult records and
drinking Mad Dog 20/20 Nixon reads Hunter Thompson's Fear And
Loathing In Las Vegas out loud to a young virgin trapped in his
room.
7-20-78 Nixon is knocked uncounscious by Clarence "Big
Man" Clemmons at a Springsteen concert in Charleston, SC
for jumping on stage during an encore.
11-20-78 Big Daddy Nixon goes to join Otis Redding in
the great beyond.
6-10-79 Nixon graduates college and moves to England hoping
to join The Clash. Winds up playing Dion and Jerry Lee Lewis
songs in the underground for money.
1-30-80 Nixon gives up on his Clash dreams. He moves to
Denver and begins work for VISTA organizing winos into work forces
and entertains them on breaks by singing Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly
songs.
5-12-80 Hears George Thoroughgood on the radio and decides
he is now a singer and guitar player.
11-21-80 Nixon and his punk band Zebra 123 are questioned
by the Secret Service for their part in the Assassination Ball
at Denver's notorious punk club, Malfunction Junction.
2-7-81 Lack of Poontang causes Nixon to follow college
girlfriend to San Diego, CA.
8-30-81 A "Howlin Wolf only" edict on his turntable
drives "Kate Bush loving" girlfriend away.
9-2-81 Nixon meets fellow San Diego musician and de-mentor
Country Dick Montana. Much drinking and carousing ensue.
10-1-81 Experiences Country Dick And The Snuggle Bunnies
playing The Wreck Of The Old '97 at a neo-strip joint and gets
laid. Nixon decides to stay in San Diego.
10-14-82 Nixon and two buddies begin a bicycle trip from
San Diego to Danville, VA.
10-20-82 After drinking too many Skylab Fallouts on Bourbon
Street in New Orleans Mojo has the "Mojo Nixon Revelation"
that gives birth to the idea of playin' guitar, hollerin' about
injustice, having a good time, drinking and fornicating. Mojo=Voodoo
Nixon=Bad Politics
post-revelation:
1-5-83 Mojo Nixon returns to San Diego to share his revelation
with Country Dick Montana.
4-7-83 Nixon sees The Blasters perform in a small San
Diego club. He doesn't shut up or sleep for 4 days.
4-15-83 Nixon begins performing with washboard player
(he didn't own a snare drum) Skid Roper at ultra-sleazy Spirit
Club. The club becomes the inspiration for the song Where The
Hell's My Money.
6-3-83 Nixon hitchhikes across country after not being
asked to be a founding member of The Beat Farmers by Country
Dick.
8-2-83 While working as a park ranger for the summer in
North Carolina Nixon is knocked unconscious and falls into the
river. His life is saved by 65 year old fellow grassmower and
he takes this as a sign from Elvis to return to San Diego and
make a big rock 'n roll ruckus.
10-4-83 Nixon meets future wife Adaire in the parking
lot of Bodies dive bar where he just performed wearing a dress.
8-10-84 Nixon and Roper win San Diego battle of the bands
and win recording studio time which they use to record two songs
for a local music compilation.
9-12-84 A professional gofer killer sees Nixon perform
for the first time at the Spirit Club. He is awe struck but has
no idea that Nixon will completely destroy his life. He gives
up gofer killing to work for Mojo on the road and ends up becoming
his longtime manager. Nixon dubs him Bullethead the first week
on the road and the name sticks.
12-5-84 Nixon records a demo in the living room of producer,
and future Beat Farmer, Joey "Mudbone" Harris.
1-30-85 Nixon and Roper open a show for Tex And The Horseheads
in San Diego. Representatives of Enigma Records are at the show.
2-1-85 Nixon sends demo tape to Enigma Records. Shortly
thereafter Ron Goudie from Enigma Records calls him on the phone.
3-19-85 Nixon signs contract with Enigma to release the
demo as an album entitled Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper. Frequently
referred to by fans as Free, Drunk And Horny based on the cover
art.
8-25-85 The album is released. Nixon and Roper take to the
road in a '67 Malibu station wagon. They spend a high percentage
of touring time following the Beat Farmers and being their opening
act (many times as a surprise to even the club owners). Jesus
At McDonalds is a hit at college radio.
1-18-86 Skid Roper is arrested in Los Angeles for jaywalking
and resisting arrest during the recording of Frenzy with producer
Ron Goudie (Poison, Stryper and assorted LA punk bands).
5-4-86 Frenzy is released. Stuffin Martha's Muffin and
I Hate Banks are hits at college radio. Nixon and Roper tour
with The Pogues. Bullethead begins touring with Mojo as road
manager. Nixon performs with a TV set on his head. PEOPLE MAGAZINE
calls album "as pleasurable as having a wasp fly up your
nose".
11-20-86 Get Outta My Way EP (produced by Ron Goudie)
is released. Burn Down The Malls (written in the van on the way
to the studio) is a college and commercial drive time radio hit.
Nixon makes a video for the song that is played on MTV's 120
minutes.
3-15-87 While performing in San Francisco (at the I-Beam)
Nixon plays a little known Chuck Berry tune, Tulane. In the middle
of the song Nixon goes completely off his rocker and begins ranting
how Elvis, is Everywhere, Everything and Everybody. The song
literally spews out of him nearly intact as he become a lightning
rod for the Elvibration about to sweep the nation.
8-16-87 BO-DAY-SHUS is released (produced by Goudie).
Elvis is Everywhere is a radio and MTV cultural phenomenon.
11-4-87 MTV producer Mark Pellington approaches Mojo about
appearing in "shorts" to run on the network that he
lambasted on his last album.
12-10-87 MTV agrees to allow Mojo to script and ad-lib
his shorts.
1-17-88 Mojos's spots begin running on MTV.
2-4-88 Mojo tours Australia and encounters brethren more
boneheaded and drunk than himself. While on tour he writes the
song Kylie Minogue is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child
that is later adapted for American Audiences.
3-17-88 Mojo does his first of many hosting gigs for MTV
on their "Live From Spring Break" show.
4-12-88 Nixon tours and in the van listens to nothing
except the Replacements Pleased to Meet Me produced by legendary
curmudgeon Jim Dickinson (Big Star, Toots and the Maytalls).
5-23-88 Mojo is pressured by record company to find a
"name" producer. After being turned down by Tom Wait
and Keith Richards Nixon contacts Dickinson. Luckily Dickinson
turns out to be a fan and kindred spirit.
9-12-88 Nixon heads to Memphis to record an album with
Dickinson. Learns the joys of Graceland on mushrooms, local wrestling
shows, blues jams in Mississippi and church with Rev. Al Green.
10-15-88 Nixon stays in Memphis for his first film gig
in "Great Balls of Fire". The movie bio starring Dennis
Quaid and Winona Ryder. He plays a band member along with John
Doe and Jimmy Vaughn. Nixon and Doe and Vaughn and co-star Trey
Wilson form a band for a one-time performance with producer Jon
Hampton on drums.
2-11-89 Nixon marries his common law wife Adaire. His
Go-Kart track wedding draws 250 guests and two live radio broadcast
and is televised by MTV. His wedding party includes his uncle,
Brother and six year old son Ruben. He and his wedding party
arrive at altar on Go-Karts. The Rev. Country Dick Montana performs
the ceremony.
2-14-89 Nixon begins a three week tour with the Pleasure
Barons. A 14 member tuxedo-clad Las Vegas style review from Hell
starring Mojo, Montana and Dave Alvin.
2-22-89 ROOT, HOG OR DIE is released. The song (619) 239-KING
is a radio and MTV hit. Kris Kristofferson makes an appearance
in the video.
5-13-89 Video for Debbie Gibson is Pregnant With My Two
Headed Love Child is banned by MTV. Nixon refuses to host future
MTV shows. Winona Ryder declares "Playing Debbie Gibson
in the video is my favorite role to date."
7-4-89 Mojo begins tour with the Pogues and Violent Femmes.
7-25-89 Nixon and Roper perform the real This Land is
Your Land on stage at the high falutin' Wolf Trap National Park
amphitheater. He is joined by the Pogues and Shane McGowan falls
down on stage and continues singing and drinking. Many blue-haired
ladies are offended and Nixon and his wife are banned for life
from the facility.
9-13-89 Mojo begins last tour with longtime partner Skid
Roper. The duo realize one of their long time dreams of playing
Moosejaw, Saskatchewan. Unfortunately the venue becomes the sight
of the duos' break-up as they disagree on the formation of a
full band.
11-12-89 Nixon and Roper perform their last show together
at a club in Bozeman, Montana. Their final performance is on
a show with Firehose and Screaming Trees. In Bozeman, Nixon discovers
an anatomically correct inflatable love sheep for sale in an
adult bookstore. His life is inexplicably changed by this discovery.
12-1-89 Bullethead gives up the road and moves to NYC
to form Bullethead Management. Nixon is his first client.
elderstatesman:
1-17-90 EMI releases UNLIMITED EVERYTHING in Europe. Nixon
spends several months touring Europe with a full band, The Talking
Boogers featuring 350 lb. Bass player Gil T.
4-14-90 Nixon returns to Memphis for an album with his
new mentor Dickinson. Nixon puts together the first "post-cow-punk
supergroup" for the record. John Doe of X, Country Dick
Montana of the Beat Farmers, Eric Ambel of the Del-Lords, and
Bill Davis of Dash Rip Rock.
7-12-90 Nixon plays the "Spirit of Rock 'n' Roll"
in a sequel to ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL. The movie goes direct
to video. Later Nixon has a cameo in CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU? And
the movie doesn't come out for three years.
9-1-90 "OTIS" is released. The video for Destroy
All Lawyers is virtually unseen. But the song Don Henley Must
Die becomes a hit and stirs much controversy.
9-10-90 Nixon needs a full-time touring band. Over the
phone he hires members of the recently disbanded Neptunes of
Austin, Texas based on the recommendation of Joe Ely. Nixon begins
a long time touring relationship with piano player Wetdawg and
drummer Wid. The band is christened the Toadliquors.
12-1-90 Just as Otis is picking up momentum Enigma Records
goes out of business. Nixon's recording and songwriting rights
revert to him.
4-2-91 IRS records surreptitiously re-releases Nixon's
records. Nixon tours with Dread Zeppelin.
1991 & 1992 While Nixon's single lawyer tries to gain
control of his creative output from a giant corporate monolith,
Nixon tours and records many songs for tribute albums. (The Sonics,
The Ramones, Led Zeppelin, Dean Martin, The Dead Kennedys). Nixon
strikes a deal with Triple X Records to produce acts he discovers
for them. These groups include The Dick Nixons, Fish Karma, and
One Foot in the Grave.
7-1-92 Nixon and the Toadliquors begin the first annual
Tour de Tejas. A yearly occurrence that entails spending an entire
month touring the state of Texas.
8-2-92 Nixon is struck speechless for the first time in
his life. As he is performing Don Henley Must die in a small
club in Texas, Nixon is joined onstage by Don Henley who proceeds
to sing along.
9-12-92 Nixon releases Horny Holidays a raunchy Christmas
party record on Triple X Records. The Louie, Louie of Christmas
albums.
10-17-92 Nixon begins a three week guest host stint on
the USA Networks "Up all Night" Program.
3-15-93 Nixon appears in the unpopular Super Mario Bros.
Movie based on the popular video game.
6-2-93 Nixon tours with the even sleazier Pleasure Barons
line-up that adds John Doe on Bass and bartending chore. A Pleasure
Barons live album is released from the tapes recorded in 1989.
7-3-93 Nixon records with punk rock legend Jello Biafra.
A country album???
2-5-94 Mrs. Nixon gives birth to Rafe Cannonball Nixon.
3-12-94 Prairie Home Invasion, the Nixon/Biafra country
album is released and punk rock purists are outraged.
3-15-94 Nixon's attorney (codename:Dragonslayer) gains
court ordered control of all Mojos's songwriting and publishing
rights.
3-16-94 Nixon and his longtime manager and poker buddy
Bullethead form Blutarski Entertainment, Inc, for the purpose
of recording a new Mojo album and laundering corporate funds.
4-14-94 Nixon films a pilot for his series "Shut
up and Drive" which ends up as shorts on the USA Network.
7-4-94 Mojo is approached by his old pal Eric "Roscoe"
Ambel about producing the new record. His recent production credits
include Nils Lofgren, Bottle Rockets, Blood Oranges, and Go to
Blazes.
8-16-94 Blutarski Entertainment strikes a distribution
deal with Ripe & Ready Records for the album Whereabouts
Unknown.
11-1-94 Nixon begins his third annual Horny Holidays tour.
3-7-95 Nixon's ninth full length album Whereabouts Unknown
is released in the States and in Europe through LAST CALL Records.
The scariest thing about this
extensive timeline is that it is the truest bio of mojo Nixon
ever written.
|