The music industry is full of rebels and outlaws, but few truly embody that spirit like Mojo Nixon and Jeremy Tepper.
They weren’t just nonconformists; they were trailblazers, pushing boundaries in ways that redefined the edge of the music world. With wild hearts and minds as vast as the galaxy, their legacies remind us that out past Mars, there is no speed limit.
Mojo was a wild one, no question about it. He didn’t just mess with the mainstream, he set it on fire with his crazy sense of humor and that untamed spirit. Whether it was the whole “Elvis Is Everywhere” or “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child,” Mojo always found a way to keep everyone on their toes. He didn’t just break the rules—he burned them to the ground, showing us that music could be just as unpredictable and wild as he was…okay maybe.
Oh, and the first time I met I Mojo, I was introduced to him as his “boss.” Ha! I use quotations because while it may have been correct on the corporate org chart, I knew right away that as long as I just kept it between the ditches and stayed out of the way, Mojo would handle the rest. It was as fun (albeit sometimes with sweaty palms) to watch “it” unfold for me as it was for his fans. We knew Mojo…but none of us knew what was coming next.
Jeremy Tepper, on the other hand, was the captain of the pirate ship. Whether as the founder of his own industry trade publications, his record label Diesel Only Records, and finally the true tastemaker of “Outlaw Country,” Tepper’s legacy transcended the traditional radio airwaves and launched us all into new territory.
His vision wasn’t just about playing songs—it was about curating a space where authenticity ruled and where genre-bending pioneers could be heard. I remember being in his office with his channel in the background and saying to Jeremy, “did you just go from Hank Sr, to Hank Jr, to Hank III?” He says “of course, baby – wouldn’t you?” I just laughed and said, “when you put it like that…yeah, I guess I would!” Much like Mojo, I knew the best thing I could do is just keep him out of the ditches and because the rest of the “road” was his.
Tepper opened doors for countless artists who thrived outside the boundaries of the mainstream, giving them a stage to shine. Together, Mojo and Tepper didn’t just walk the line—they erased it, crafting a legacy that reminds us the only limit is the one we place on ourselves.
As long as there’s a wild heart behind the music, there will always be those pushing beyond the conventional, traveling at warp speed through the infinite possibilities of sound.
They were rebels. They were outlaws. They were all of the things you’d imagine them to be. But they were my friends, and dammit, I miss my friends so much.
But if I know one thing…
Out past Mars…There are no rules. There is no speed limit. And thanks to Mojo Nixon and Jeremy Tepper, the ride will always be full throttle.