Courtney Love To Sue Activision Over Guitar Hero 5

[CelticJobber]

If you were disgusted by the inclusion of a playable Kurt Cobain in Guitar Hero 5, you weren't the only one: Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, has gone on record (well, on Twitter, anyway, in what looks a lot like Courtney Love's real Twitter account) to register her disapproval, saying, "For the record this Guitar Hero (expletive) is breach of contract on a Bullys part and there will be a proper addressing of this and retraction." Love plans to "sue the (expletive) out of Activision," speaking for herself, Cobain's estate, and "the various LLCs Cobain Enterprises."

She claims to have never given approval for a Kurt Cobain avatar. "We have NOTHING to do with this," she said across two tweets (presented here as originally typed, with the exception of connecting the two messages). "it was presented to me and oi said 'show me a better avataR' TO DRAG MY HEELS., never did i intend on allowing GUITARHERO for me or for Kurt i am NOT yoko (expletive) Ono no ofense to her, but i am a different person entirely and this is insane."

The Cobain avatar was upsetting enough when we thought Love had signed off on it. But now that we hear she hasn't, we're worried for our own sakes. We could all end up playable in a Guitar Hero game at any time.

Activision refutes Love's story:

This morning, we reported on Courtney Love's tweeted allegations that the ghastly Kurt Cobain avatar was included in Guitar Hero 5 without her consent. Though the company didn't mention whether or not the lawsuit has actually been filed against them, Activision just sent us a statement refuting Love's claims:

"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(r) 5."

Maybe Love did sign off on it, but just doesn't remember. There, we said it. We were all thinking it anyway.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/courtney-love-to-sue-activision-over-guitar-hero-5s-reanimated/

[heybtbm]

If you were disgusted by the inclusion of a playable Kurt Cobain in Guitar Hero 5, you weren't the only one.

Oh please. No sane person is "disgusted". LOL at the perpetually offended.

[scooterb23]

What 15 years is too soon for some people? Doesn't Courtney need the crack money this will assuredly bring her? Or is she hoping to get more crack money by suing them?

I just want to play it on the Wii to see if using my Wii Zapper on the avatar has any effect.

Or is that too soon as well?

[CelticJobber]

This video is what "disgusted" some people about Kurt being in the game. His avatar can perform songs by all artists in the game, not just Nirvana. Which leads to some pretty funny situations...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UuAoEW5MbI

[CelticJobber]

Surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have just released an official statement about this on FooFighters.com:

"This is a statement regarding Nirvana, Guitar Hero and the likeness of the late Kurt Cobain.

We want people to know that we are dismayed and very disappointed in the way a facsimile of Kurt is used in the Guitar Hero game. The name and likeness of Kurt Cobain are the sole property of his estate – we have no control whatsoever in that area.

While we were aware of Kurt’s image being used with two Nirvana songs, we didn’t know players have the ability to unlock the character. This feature allows the character to be used with any kind of song the player wants. We urge Activision to do the right thing in “re-locking” Kurt’s character so that this won’t continue in the future.

It’s hard to watch an image of Kurt pantomiming other artists’ music alongside cartoon characters. Kurt Cobain wrote songs that hold a lot of meaning to people all over the world. We feel he deserves better.

Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl "

[scooterb23]

Oh man, it's going to go away isn't it? God, I'd hate to see that, because that video is gold. Pure. Gold.

I may have to buy it now, just to play it before they get all PC on us.

[emceelokey]

Fuck it, give the money back then. Kurt's mind led to his own death. Remember he killed himself and lfe a wife and kid behind because he essentially felt he sold out and didn't have control of his life and shit. Now the crackhead mother and holder of his estate and rights sold off most if not all of the rights she was in control of for kurt and probably sonrted that all up.

Yeah his music was great but to say he's a person that deserves "better" is bullshit.

[portnoyd]

Oh extreme lol. I mean, it's rather sad to see this, but still.... lol.

[emceelokey]

It is quite awesome to see him rock out next to a XBL avitar though.

[The 1 2 P]

Man, I can't wait to see the public backlash after Michael Jackson gets included in Guitar Hero 10.

[ottojello]

That is one classy lady!

[joshnickerson]

I guess it says something about my taste in music when I have no idea who Kurt Cobain is.

[Icarus Moonsight]

He's empirical evidence as to why a guy should never marry a woman they find dancing topless on a pole. Toss 'em a couple bucks sure, but never a ring. Classy lady indeed. LOL

His band mates made a good case though. I wonder if Love even knows what she allowed Activision to do when she signed the contracts? Y Kant Kortnee Reed?


Man, I can't wait to see the public backlash after Michael Jackson gets included in Guitar Hero 10.

I see MJ more in line with DDR than GH/RB. Maybe it's just me?


Shot in the heart... and you're to blame...

Maybe if his heart was behind his face... Oh my, is he fingering his wife?

Double Entendre :o

[Kitsune Sniper]

This video is what "disgusted" some people about Kurt being in the game. His avatar can perform songs by all artists in the game, not just Nirvana. Which leads to some pretty funny situations...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UuAoEW5MbI

Like I said over there, I'd like to think Kurt would be laughing his ass off at the video and what his computer image is doing instead of going all pissy about it.

[Baloo]

I see MJ more in line with DDR than GH/RB. Maybe it's just me

I agree, MJ is a dancer, and he wouldn't really fit into Guitar Hero.

Back on topic, this is pretty much just nonsense. If she really did sign off the rights and doesn't realize it, she must've been snorting something before she posted that on Twitter.

[jonnyutah]

they shouls ahve kept the avatar and gave him a new name so technically you can say it's not him but a guy that looks like kurt that jsut happens to cover all nirvana songs.

BTW, is marilyn manson in GH5?

[jcalder8]

What 15 years is too soon for some people?
I agree 100%

Even if it had been 15 months or 15 days I don't see what the big deal would be.

[G-Boobie]

This is just more of the suddenly popular general Activision hatred finding a focus. I grew up on Nirvana, but come on... It's been more than a decade, I never knew the dude personally, and he married what appears to be some kind of kobold or hobgoblin. Let him prance with Judy Nails.

[scooterb23]

If anything, I want the game more now than I did before (read that as, I had 0 interest, now I have 10-15% interest) just to do this...

[garagesaleking!!]

i dont get what the big deal is, if i die feel free to put me in a video game any way you want, i own gh5 and now also want to play as the cobain character, maybe they will pull the game from the shelves and this will become a rare version of it.

[CelticJobber]

Courtney's lawyers should've just put a clause in the contract that specified Kurt could be used only for Nirvana songs, then nobody would be upset. The Jimi Hendrix Estate did that last year when he was in GH: World Tour.

[j_factor]

It's not a very accurate portrayal of him anyway. When did Kurt ever perform so theatrically?

[Push Upstairs]

Well, Kurt is singing *both* Bon Jovi *AND* Bush...that is pretty degrading.

I like Nirvana, but I don't have any real in depth knowledge of how Kurt was as a person.

However, if I go off of some of his actions from "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!" I think he would find the whole avatar thing pretty damn funny.

[Cobra Commander]

I really think that if Kurt could see it, he'd be laughing his ass off.

[kupomogli]

Any reason to sue, they will. She's already rich.

[Oobgarm]

Every bit of this is hysterical. (video and lawsuit)

[Push Upstairs]

This video is proof enough that Kurt would probably find that avatar singing pretty damn funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtehDIWrX5U

Courtney probably needs to view this footage again when trying to discuss "respecting his image".

[Lady Jaye]

Why is it a big deal anyway? In Guitar Hero: World Tour, you can play any song as Billy Corgan or Ozzy Osbourne, and neither Billy nor Ozzy have complained about it (even though Billy's avatar is way too skinny)...

[Ed Oscuro]

Like I said over there, I'd like to think Kurt would be laughing his ass off at the video and what his computer image is doing instead of going all pissy about it.
Unfortunately, he probably would have been getting pissy. He would have been right pissed about his early poetry being auctioned off recently too.

What disgusts me is that there's no possibility of equipping Cobain with a gun, or playing a hitman in this game. WHEN WILL THERE BE JUSTICE?!

[badinsults]

I must say, it was hilarious watching him sing Bon Jovi and Megadeth there.

[Kitsune Sniper]

This video is proof enough that Kurt would probably find that avatar singing pretty damn funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtehDIWrX5U

Courtney probably needs to view this footage again when trying to discuss "respecting his image".

Oh my fucking god.

If he was alive I'd give him a big big hug.

[CelticJobber]

What disgusts me is that there's no possibility of equipping Cobain with a gun, or playing a hitman in this game. WHEN WILL THERE BE JUSTICE?!

Now, that's pretty goddamn tasteless. Your post disgusts me.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's okay to eat fish because they don't have any feelings.

[Gentlegamer]

I miss Kurt and Nirvana.

[The 1 2 P]

How can you possibly expect to make a lawsuit when you can't type your grievance correctly? Furthermore, if you aren't coherent enough to remember signing off on certain rights, then what chance do you have in court?

[SegaAges]

This video is proof enough that Kurt would probably find that avatar singing pretty damn funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtehDIWrX5U

Courtney probably needs to view this footage again when trying to discuss "respecting his image".

When he sung like that, it strangely reminded me of the lead singer from HIM.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Can we (and by we I mean the human race) sue Courtney Love for impersnation of our species?

She's clearly some type of hybrid dog-fish-lizard that shaved its fur and learned to walk on its hind legs ... and shoot heroin.

[Push Upstairs]

How can you possibly expect to make a lawsuit when you can't type your grievance correctly? Furthermore, if you aren't coherent enough to remember signing off on certain rights, then what chance do you have in court?

Seems like standard operating procedure for Courtney Love to me.



When he sung like that, it strangely reminded me of the lead singer from HIM.

That doesn't really say much for the group, now does it?

Of course when someone mentions "HIM" or I see a CD from these guys I automatically think of the he/she devil crab thing from "Powerpuff Girls" called "Him".

[GarrettCRW]

Courtney Love is pissy because, unlike with the defiling of the legacies of legends like Tupac Shakur and Jimi Hendrix, she's widely known to the general public, and will take the brunt of the blame for what happened under her watch.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Courtney Love is pissy because, unlike with the defiling of the legacies of legends like Tupac Shakur and Jimi Hendrix, she's widely known to the general public, and will take the brunt of the blame for what happened under her watch.

Tupac is ALIVE! That's why he keeps releasing the same album over and over and over!

[Gentlegamer]

I just watched those videos. When Kurt did Bush I threw up in my mouth a little.

[Lostdwarf]

i'm one of those theorists thats believes Courtney killed Kurt and this is jus more bullsh!t complaining from her. Wahhhh my career sucks wahhhhh i want his money wahhh wahh wahh

[Howie6925]

I have to agree with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic it was kinda sad to see kurt singing Bon Jovi and dance around like a fruit. He should be pulled out for Nirvana songs only, Kurt in a million years would not go near those songs. I hope courtney wins, I agree with her 100%. I know many will not agree.

[DigitalSpace]

Is Courtney going to kick Fred Durst out of their asses? (http://www.portlandmercury.com/columns/week-in-review/Content?oid=25789)

[c0ldb33r]

Since when do we care what Courtney Love thinks about anything?

[Therealqtip]

Why is it a big deal anyway? In Guitar Hero: World Tour, you can play any song as Billy Corgan or Ozzy Osbourne, and neither Billy nor Ozzy have complained about it (even though Billy's avatar is way too skinny)...

Cause Ozzy sold out as soon as he put cameras in his damn house and Billy I'm not sure who cares and Kurt would NEVER stand for this. He hated this crap.

[Kid Ice]

Kurt would NEVER stand for this. He hated this crap.

Did he? Or was that a convenient stance to take once he became a superstar? My impression of him, up until his death, was that he was someone who desperately wanted to be a rock star. Loved his music, but I always found the man to be a complete phony.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While I do think it's a bit silly to have Kurt Cobain play or sing songs by other artists (and I want to be clear on that - it's SILLY, it's not "appalling" or "sickening", because at the end of the day it's JUST a caricature of a long dead musician in a video game) I don't see how anybody (even his former band-mates) is qualified to "know" or articulate how Mr. Cobain would think about this. The man passed on LONG before musician likenesses were featured in games of this graphical capacity ... and I can't recall him speaking out against the Journey arcade game.

For one thing - It's not like Activision put Kurt's image into the latest Call of Duty as a Nazi General ... he's in a Guitar Hero game, on stage, either playing an instrument or singing a song, which is what he did when he was alive and well.

Secondly, if not legally (yes, I do understand Courtney Love is the executor of his estate/image) Mr. Cobain sort of signed-off on having a "say" in such things when he pointed a shotgun at himself and pulled the trigger.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think Nirvana is great and I think Kurt was a defining personality of the music of that era (I was a high-school senior when he did himself in, so I was in that "core demographic" of "Gen X'ers" who were most "affected" by his passing) but, come on, this news and any legal action taken is the silliest of silly news I've seen this year.

For all we know (and let's be honest - we know nothing but what hearsay and conjecture we've read in blogged news) Courtney Love told her lawyers to sign off on whatever Activision wanted without properly reviewing what the end product was going to be ... OR perhaps Activision never did tell her (or her reps) that they would make Kurt available as a playable character ... either way, it's over-blown, petty, and downright silly.

[CelticJobber]

I found this on RollingStone.com:

"Love’s recent “comments” on Twitter seem to negate everything Activision’s Tim Riley told RS when we talked to him about the Cobain avatar on GH5. “Courtney supplied us with photos and videos and knew exactly what she wanted Kurt to look like,” Riley told RS. “She picked the wardrobe and hair style, which turned out to be the ‘Teen Spirit’ look, then we went back and forth over changes — some subtle, some not so subtle… She was actually great to work with. She got back with comments pretty quickly.”


One thing I noticed about that is Kurt is wearing his outfit from MTV Unplugged in the game, not what he had in the Teen Spirit video.

[Nature Boy]

The sad thing is that the video is funny, but it doesn't even come *close* to deserving the attention it's getting.

It's one guy's way at poking fun at Love, and all we've done is feed the troll *and* give Activision some free pub.

(FWIW, I think Cobain would've loved videos like that. He absolutely loved Weird Al's take on Teen Spirit from what I understand - the guy had a sense of humour about fame)

[The Clonus Horror]

I think it's brilliant that he's prancing about like a ninny with a skeleton drummer in that video. I'm sure he would've at least cracked a smile at that.

[Push Upstairs]

I thought the skeleton drummer was awesome.

[sleazeroxx86]

Did he? Or was that a convenient stance to take once he became a superstar? My impression of him, up until his death, was that he was someone who desperately wanted to be a rock star. Loved his music, but I always found the man to be a complete phony.
Honestly, no disrespect to Kurt or whatever but I couldn't agree more with you.

[rbudrick]

Honestly, no disrespect to Kurt or whatever but I couldn't agree more with you.

I somewhat agree with this. I tend to think most who commit suicide are hypocrites of the same caliber. Not all, but most...it's such a selfish act.

As for the hilarity of that video, I was laughing my ass off. It was too much!!

Anyway, who's to say she isn't just trying to make more royalty money by causing hype?

-Rob

[CelticJobber]

Does anyone think this could be some kind of a publicity stunt to drive up sales? There wasn't much buzz on the game before, but I saw a story about this on Fox News the other day.

And I've heard several people talk about getting GH5 now, because they think it could be a collector's item if Courtney has it pulled from shelves.

[CelticJobber]

The latest update from NME:

'Guitar Hero' CEO Dan Rosensweig has told NME.COM that Courtney Love has "cashed the cheque" that coincides with a contract relating to her late husband, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and his appearance the game.

Love had threatened to sue Activision, the game's makers, for allowing Cobain to be used in 'Guitar Hero 5' to sing songs by other artists.

Cobain's former Nirvana bandmates Dave Grohl and Kris Novoselic slammed Activision too, requesting they re-programme the game so the frontman could only appear performing Nirvana songs.

Rosensweig suggested Love was fully aware of the contract she agreed to with regard to Cobain's character's use and had accepted the agreed fee. He added that he was "disappointed" Grohl and Novoselic objected, but said he would be happy to talk to them to try and clear things up.

"I do know that there's absolutely a contract and we know that the cheque has been cashed," he told NME.COM. "I can only deal with the facts. It's very clear what the terms are."

He went on to claim that the real dispute should be between Love, who controls Cobain's estate, and the two former Nirvana members.

"We care about the artists more than anyone else and we would like to make artists happy in every circumstance," he said. "I'm disappointed in this case that there seems to be confusion between the band and the estate.

"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. The fact that the rest of the band and the estate did not communicate – I'm not aware of those facts [about their communication].

"I can't speak for everybody being happy, [but] it gets done with complete consent from artists. These are the artists who fans love. We hope over time that the estate will appreciate that."

Rosensweig added that he was not opposed to opening dialogue again if it would help to smooth things over.

"We love engaging in dialogues with artists," he said. "We always want to hear from artists. In this circumstance there seems to be some confusion between the estate and we would love to clear that up. We're not avoiding any dialogue."

Jon Bon Jovi, whose music features in 'Guitar Hero 5', recently sided with Grohl and Novoselic. "To hear someone else's voice coming out of a cartoon version of me?" he said. "I don't know. It sounds a little forced."

[Famidrive-16]

Is Courtney going to kick Fred Durst out of their asses? (http://www.portlandmercury.com/columns/week-in-review/Content?oid=25789)


"I'm so fucking sick of him playing golf with all the fucking [record] executives. We're going to show him what '60s punk rock is."

hahahhahahah