Tag Archives: courtney love

Looks like the lawsuit between Activision and pissed-off rockers over Guitar Hero 5/Band Hero is still on the docket, if Courtney Love’s newest comments are any indication.

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Jon Bon Jovi’s added weight to complaints about the use of Kurt Cobain’s likeness in Guitar Hero 5, saying he was also approached by Activision about appearing in the game.

“I had the paperwork, they wanted me to be on that game and I just passed,” he told the BBC.

“But no-one even broached the subject with me that I would be singing other people’s stuff. I don’t know how I would have reacted to that. I don’t know that I would have wanted it either.”

Courtney Love, Cobain’s widow, has threatened legal action about the use of the singer’s Avatar in the music title. Activision has said it has documents signed by Love allowing it to go ahead.

The problem appears to be that Cobain can be used as a playable Avatar to sing other people’s songs.

“I don’t know that I would have wanted it either,” said Bon Jovi.

“To hear someone else’s voice coming out of a cartoon version of me? I don’t know. It sounds a little forced.”

Thanks, Johnny.

VG247 has received an official statement from Courtney Love’s attorney, Keith Fink, Esquire, regarding Activision’s use of Kurt Cobain’s likeness in Guitar Hero 5.

Apparently, like we assumed, she is upset over Cobain being used to play other artists’ songs, which she finds detrimental to his image and legacy.

“You are correct in stating that Ms. Cobain is extremely upset at Activision’s use of Mr. Cobain’s image in a video game allowing him to sing songs of others,” Mr. Fink told VG247. “Kurt’s songs have a unique and special meaning to his fans and his image and legacy is extremely important to Ms. Cobain.

“Activision’s statement is not accurate in suggesting that they were given an unfettered use of Kurt’s name and likeness. The agreement Activision has with the trust doesn’t grant them the right to use his name and likeness in ways that denigrate his image.

“We are demanding the trust take appropriate action to protect Mr. Cobain’s image and would hope Activision would do so on its own accord and prohibit users of the game from singing songs of others.”

We have a feeling this is far from over, and you can catch up on all that happened yesterday through here, and here.

Activision has issued a statement, regarding Courtney Love’s outburst on Twitter over the use of Kurt Cobain in Guitar Hero 5.

“Guitar Hero secured the necessary licensing rights from the Cobain estate in a written agreement signed by Courtney Love to use Kurt Cobain’s likeness as a fully playable character in Guitar Hero 5,” Activision told Kotaku.

Wonder what the fuss is about then.

We have been trying to contact Love’s manager, PR firm, and personal lawyer since this morning when the news broke to get a statement – just for the sake of fairness and the facts.

Hopefully, we will hear back from one of the three soon.