Daniel McMahon dead at 41: He had written music for an Academy Award-winning film
Musician Daniel McMahon has passed away after a battle with cancer.
Daniel McMahon was best known as a guitarist and backing vocalist for Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Heart. Along with Miles Nielsen, Daniel McMahon composed music for the documentary ‘Undefeated,’ which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature back in 2012.
On 15 June 2024, Daniel McMahon revealed on Instagram that he had been diagnosed with cancer and said: “Hello friends. Hope you all are doing well. As some may have noticed, I was unable to join my band mates on the recent swing through Mexico as well as the cancellation of the last two Monday Night Band shows. What started as vocal issues turned into some upper G.I. Issues. I began working through the evaluation process with my doctor and eventually some specialists. That evaluation resulted in a pretty devastating blow; a finding of cancer in my lower esophagus. It’s a nearly unheard of occurrence in someone my age. It’s shocking and terrifying, to say the least.”
Daniel McMahon was from Rockford, Illinois, USA, and according to Rock River Current “McMahon and Nielsen composed original music for the documentary “Undefeated” by former Rockfordian Daniel Lindsay. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2012. Former mayor Larry Morrissey later declared April 2012 as Dan Lindsay, Dan McMahon, and Miles Nielsen Month.”
Many former colleagues and fans have paid tribute to him on Facebook. Dan Magers said: “Life takes us in many directions, oftentimes unexpected. It’s filled with people that wander in and out of our lives from time to time. My journey with Daniel McMahon started in college when we bonded over many things: cars, Star Wars, technology, music, movies.” He went on to say that “I and everyone else are so blessed to have had you in our lives. I miss and love you more than possible to describe my friend.”