Tag Archives: kurt cobain

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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Remember Courtney Love getting het up about the fact Kurt Cobain could sing other people’s song in Guitar Hero V? Someone’s videoed a virtual him singing YMCA in Band Hero.

And you know that emoticon that looks like “:-O”?

After the break. Thanks, Kotaku.

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Activision has apparently pulled YouTube footage showing Kurt Cobain singing songs that are not his in Guitar Hero 5.

The videos were removed due to copyright claims, but the strange thing is, none of the other 300,000 Guitar Hero 5 videos have been pulled.

We have sent mails out to both Activision and Courtney Love’s attorney to see if we can get an explanation for any of this.

Hopefully, one or the other, or both, will get back with us soon.

Via D’toid (Kotaku).

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.

This is awesome. You knew about Kurt Cobain popping up in GH5, right? Looks like Courtney Love didn’t.

She’s just posted the following tweets:

For the record this Guitar Hero shit is breach of contract on a Bullys part and there will be a proper addressing of this and retraction.

And:

WE are going to sue the shit out of ACtivision we being the Trust the Estate the LLC the various LLCs Cobain Enterprises.

Whoops-a-buttercup. Via Perez Hilton and Kotaku.

Update: Acti just came back on this, but declined to comment.

Activision has announced that Kurt Cobain will be a playable character in Guitar Hero 5.

His likeness, controlled by you, will be performing two of the band’s singles from their 1991 album Nevermind: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and a previously unreleased live recording of “Lithium.”

“Kurt Cobain is one of the most recognizable frontmen in rock ‘n’ roll history and it’s an honor to have two of Nirvana’s masterpieces included in Guitar Hero 5,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision. “This is the first time the original recording of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ has ever been licensed in an entertainment property and we’re thrilled to offer Guitar Hero® fans exclusive access to the unreleased live version of ‘Lithium.’”

Wonder how much of a cut Courtney Love got out of this.

It’s out next month for the usual suspects.

Press release through the break.

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