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Courtney Love
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'Guitar Hero' Maker: Cobain Avatar Is Legal
Activision claims Courtney Love knowingly signed a contract to license her husband's likeness and cashed their check. Love fires back.
By Dean Stattmann 09.18.09 11:30 AM
Courtney Love
Nirvana fans ticked-off about Kurt Cobain's unlockable avatar in Guitar Hero 5, which, frighteningly, allows the Nirvana deity to sing Bon Jovi and Bush songs, may have a target for their wrath. The game's developer, Activision, says that Courtney Love, the handler of Cobain's estate, knowingly signed a contract, understood all the fine print -- and already deposited their check.
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>> Kurt Cobain in 'Guitar Hero 5': Horrifying
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"There's absolutely a contract and we know that the check has been cashed," Guitar Hero CEO Dan Rosenweig told NME. "It's really not Guitar Hero's confusion. We went and spoke directly to the estate and made it crystal clear, got the rights, paid for the rights, and really we've done what we've always done."
"I'm disappointed in this case that there seems to be confusion between the band and the estate," he added, referencing a statement released by former Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, who expressed their discontent with Cobain's unlockable avatar, and said their onetime bandmate "deserves better."
In response to Rosenweig's comments, Love unleashed a scathing diatribe via Twitter: "Call me and tell me what check and for how much. You liquidate Kurt and you tell me I've cashed a check? We didn't get a cent," she wrote. "Now Mr Activision if you want to fix that I'd very much appreciate it. You've humiliated me and my daughter. People think we did 'Guitar Hero 5' for money when in fact we got not one cent."
It's not the first time Love has maintained that she didn't approve Cobain's avatar: "FOR THE RECORD I DID NOT APPROVE KURTS AVATAR FOR GUYITARHERO5," the Hole singer posted on Twitter Sept. 10. "[I] think Kurt would despise this game alone let alone this avatar." Then, an hour later: "Disgusted? Welcome to my NIGHTMARE. [Y]eah we[']ll sue [A]ctivision this is disgusting."
It's a dirty, dirty stand-off. Who do you believe?
I side with Courtney on this one. They took my likeness as well. Right down to the camoflauge shhorts, sleeveless denim vests, and skin tight jeans.
But, I still have my dignity.
Who do you believe? Activision of course. Courtney Love signed whatever was put in front of her and used the cash to fuel whatever addiction she felt like indulging.
Activision could take the high road and respect the artist and lock the avatar... or hell, maybe Kurt would've laughed his ass off at it. He'd be in his 40s by now and maybe all the angst he had would have gone.
Can't wait until they trick Tom Waits into signing Rock Band or Guitar Hero and have his avatar singing a Justin Timberlake song. The 21st century is a trip!
I can't believe this crazy-ass woman and what she scrawls any more (partly because it's in an indecipherable glyph of her own invention). First it was Activision's fault, then she may have blamed Grohl (unsure), and now she hasn't received a check and it wasn't for the money - than WHY did you do it in the first place
Was an avatar really that important that it was worth the "unlocking" risk which she views as besmirching to Cobain. The fact that he's in it AT ALL is what's causing his corpse to roll over in its grave, not the fact he's "singing" non-Nirvana songs.
I'm with Courtney on this one. Her lawyers are the ones that have a lot of explaining to do. As for the games manufactures....well we all know that they are talentless, souless and just in it for the $$$$$$$. How can they dignify others when they have no dignity, period. You just have to see the footage of Kurdt for a few seconds and it makes you want to puke over those corporate assholes. No wonder Kurtd wrote the song "Rape Me"...he truly was a visionary.
As for Courtney, its always easy to kick down the underdog. She's done a fine job of raising her girl and I'm sure at the end of the day this is the only thing Kurdt ultimately cares about.
If you really want to show Kurdt some respect then lay off the person that he loved and married.
LOVE & peace
Kasper
Successful troll is successful!
I don't believe either of them... really what a nice publicity stunt...
As for Kurt... This inane story of avatar is nowhere near a shocking as having his journals published...
.... And... Why do we care?
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