This made me laugh. As if we needed proof that everyone who is associated with Nirvana (Grohl, Love, Noveselic) take themselves way too seriously, they are “dismayed” about this and are asking Activision to re-lock the character. Courtney Love is doing what she’s good at, placing all the blame for everything on other people through various internet outlets like Twitter. Many people are losing their minds over this. Judge for yourself:
I’ve always made no secret that I feel Nirvana was THE most overrated band in the history of music and given way too much credit for a movement that many others had just as much of a hand in starting. I also feel Kurt and Nirvana are treated as gods due to a misguided perception that they had impunible integrity when it came to their music. They always made comments about how nervous they were working for a major label and never harbored any sort of ambition for becoming a major “unit shifter”. If this was the case, why sign at all to Geffen records? You’re currently on Sub Pop who’s started to get you noticed after your first release “Bleach” and at the first sign of trouble (Sub Pop at the time may have been running in to some financial trouble) you ditch them for a huge major? I don’t buy it. Just be honest about it. There’s no shame in it. Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, they all did it, but somehow Nirvana was “pure” about it. In my opinion this whole “controversy” over who allowed this is a moot point as they’ve always been just as interested in the payday as anyone else.
This discussion currently has 11 responses.
September 10, 2009
I think the years of Nirvana have made ‘new recuits’ and so-so-on-them-fans into haters, which is unfortunate. Nirvana more than earned their place in history if you ask me.
And besides, I couldnt take your post seriously the second you said Dave Grohl takes himself too seriously. Between Probot, his work with Tenacious D, the Foo Fighters repertoire of hilarious videos, and stuff like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzFoTwils6Q
You lose, good day sir.
September 11, 2009
as for this actual game, if a close friend of yours killed themself over his success and fame, maybe his licensed portrayal is something you’d take a bit more seriously. I don’t see how you could take this particular case as some greater example of having a stick up someones ass.
September 11, 2009
I’m pretty sure out of every mainstream rock star out there, Dave takes himself the least serious. Just YouTube “Dave Grohl” and you’ll see all of the silly, zany, hilarious stuff that he does. And many of his music videos, such as Learn to Fly. He is one of the coolest, funniest, and most gracious rock stars out there.
Dave’s live show philosophy, which I’ve always enjoyed: “Imagine having a keg party and inviting eight thousand of your best friends. You have to make sure everything is right–the grill’s hot, the tap is working. No foam. And as the host, you have to do shots with everyone in the room.”
September 11, 2009
I actually saw Mr. Grohl and his Foo Fighters open for Bob Dylan one time and it was one of the more dull shows I’ve ever had the displeasure of sitting through. As I was looking around the audience, I wasn’t sure which was offending people more, the constant inappropriate language (as many people were there with their kids) or the dull acoustic arrangements of their songs. So as far as his “coolness” or “graciousness”, we seem to have differing opinions based on what we’ve seen. I know he’s made some funny videos from time to time, but I have to base my opinion on someones character from what I’ve seen directly and not based on their media image. What maybe I haven’t expressed clearly is I don’t hate Nirvana (I do own all their albums and I do enjoy their music), I hate the raising of their image to deity status based on someone (sadly) taking their life. People are putting their importance and their work alongside The Beatles, and Dylan and anyone else who is regarded as a major influence and this is based on one album? Their importance doesn’t even get out of the 90′s in my opinion. As far as the game, the minute you license someones image as a cartoon character for money, you take the risk that maybe someone will do something you don’t care for with said image.
September 11, 2009
“base my opinion on someones character from what I’ve seen directly and not based on their media image.”
So he has to make funny videos and cover songs in your presence for you to judge he has a sense of humor? WTF?
Look, I dont really care either way if he’s singing Public Enemy songs in a video game, I just don’t think its worth the slagging that they’re simply asking for his avatar to be given the same respect Guitar Hero has given the avatars of other dead rock stars. You don’t see Jimi Hendrix’s avatar singing Nickelback songs.
September 11, 2009
So, it was ok to turn him in to a “licensed portrayal” cartoon avatar (for money), but the second he sings Bon Jovi, that’s beyond the pale. I think my point is being proven that we can’t laugh at Nirvana, we can’t laugh at a cartoon character of Kurt Cobain singing a Bon Jovi song without it being sacrilege. That’s exactly my point about people associated with Nirvana being so overboard about the whole legacy. I guess I just don’t see why people would be so upset over it. I don’t even think Grohls behind most of this, it’s typical Courtney Love from the sounds of it.
I guess Johnny Cash can be unlocked to do the same sort of thing, not sure if others can or not. It’s interesting that we’re not hearing more about that.
September 11, 2009
I dont know any of the details of the liscensing agreement, but there’s a difference from using the avatar as a vehicle to bring more people to his music, and between using that avatar as a vehicle to ridicule the person.
I think the people fighting against Courtney et al, and yes this includes you, are being more ridiculous than they are. Acting as if there is some public need to have Kurt sing Bon Jovi, and that the friends and family of this guy who simply want to have the avatar only sing his own songs are Scientology level cuckoo.
It’s not ‘typical Courtney love’, its all about the Typical Internet putting lulz as their top priority. I get it, I don’t particularly give a shit if the avatar stays or goes, I got a laugh otu of the video myself, but I think its fucking retarded to point the fingers at the ex members of Nirvana.
September 11, 2009
I don’t know much about Grohl, but I do agree that Nirvana has got to be, hilariously, the most over rated band in history.
As for this “controversy”, I’m half surprised Love has a problem with it. I mean c’mon, have a little “Weird Al” style humor – there’s a skeleton playing drums and an angel on bass. Live a little.
On the other hand, it’s gently mocking someone she was married to, so I get it on that level. Though I think this is much more of an homage than it is a mock.
September 12, 2009
All I’m saying is see what you think when someone plays with the image of a friend of yours that kills themself.
I’m not saying accept it, I’m saying understand. I mean christ, look, the biggest serial killer/rapist in Canada’s history lived within miles of where Jay Sean and I grew up, and when they made a movie about it the community was very concerned and uncomfortable that it was happening. I’m not saying ban that movie about that killer, but understand that the people close to that situation, even people a couple degrees removed from it, have completely understandable and sympathetic objections that you can disagree with without mocking them. is that so difficult?
September 12, 2009
Another example – have you seen Bigger STronger Faster?
There’s the parent who was on steroids and died. He is part of the fight to do all these various acts which may be going too far, and the director of the film objected to them to the guys face, and the parent tried to play trump card using his personal experiences. Which isn’t really fair/level headed, but at the same time you cant be cynical about that guys motives/sincerity, and as such the director Chris Bell just objected without mocking him personally.
But what we’re seeing here with this Grohl/Love/Novoselic thing is people taking personal potshots at the three and doubting their sincerity, as if that since they’re celebrities and who are still making money off Nirvana, that anything they say about Kurt is somehow insincere and that they ‘lack a sense of humor’
I’m cynical as fuck, but I can’t go that far. That’s just bullshit.
September 12, 2009
This whole thing is too precious. I don’t see the mockery and the ridicule others see. It’s not like they have him playing a guitar shaped like a shotgun or something. He’s singing a harmless Bon Jovi song and saying some harmless phrase from Public Enemy. I actually haven’t asked this yet, but Goon, are you a Nirvana fan? I’m just curious.
This is actually the first time I can remember someone letting a little air out of the Nirvana legacy hot air baloon and the fans just can’t handle it. It’s too much.