Activision and Neversoft didn't just secure the rights to two tracks from Nirvana's Nevermind not found in competing games (a live version of "Lithium" and the studio cut of "Smells Like Teen Spirit") for Guitar Hero 5. They went a step further. They got the man himself, Kurt Cobain.
Well, not the actual Kurt Cobain. The singer/guitarist/songwriter really had nothin to do with this, we'd imagine. But here's the deal -- he's been digitized and can be unlocked in Guitar Hero 5. The question is, of course, were he alive today, would he approve?
We'd like to hope that someone who knew him well gave the greenlight on this one. Maybe Courtney Love pulled herself away from her MySpace blog long enough to incoherently mumble "Where do I sign?" See a video of him in action after the jump; do you think they nailed it?
We'll have our full Guitar Hero 5 next week, on September 1, the day the game hits shelves.
I'm not a die hard fan of Nirvana but this kinda offends me. This seems like the exact opposite thing Kurt Cobain would have wanted for himself. I mean didn't he blow his brains out because of bullshit like this?
Why did they have to pick dead celebrities for this game? There are plenty of famous, alive guitarists and singers they could have showcased that have songs in this game.
What ArrestedDeveloper said. This is really over the top. The fact he's in there simply to cash in and try and outdo Rock Band Beatles is downright insulting to his legacy. Not buying this, not in a million years, even if it does have Sympathy for the Devil on it.
Makes my jaw hurt watching this, haha. Does ANYONE sing like that?
On another note, looks like they got the shirtless long-haired Grohl drummin' back there.
@ArrestedDeveloper Ok I don't want to yell at you directly, it's just bad timing 'cause I've seen people say this time and again every time the whole Cobain thing is brought up on Dtoid but I think its pretty demeaning to say that Cobain killed himself because of "industry bullshit" Cobain wasn't so simple-minded to be like "Oh I'll show them, I'll show ALL of them" and off himself. If he wanted to get away from it all, he would have, easily and in a more literal sense. He killed himself because he was a lil drugged up, a lil addled, and done with a lot more than just industry bullshit.
Looks kinda like cobain... until he opens his mouth.
You wanna see something REALLY atrocious? Check this out. Yes, that is Johnny Cash on drums, Santana on rhythm, and Cobain on lead... on a hair metal song. Also, Matt Bellamy from Muse singing. I had a little bit of respect for GH before seeing this. Never again.
Yes. Yes, he did.
Screw what other folks say, all of the drugs helped, the depression had a hand in it...but the way fame distorted the reality of his life was the deal-sealer. This is about the worst way to remember him.
I've said it once, I'll say it evermore - Activision, for whatever reason you choose to come up with, is the goddamned devil.
Honest to God, this was Kurt's worst nightmare, although places like Hot Topic have been cashing in on his ghost for a long, long time. Nothing is sacred in our culture anymore and it's killing us. Everything's a fucking commodity, every person is just 'somebody else' to exploit or be exploited by. When's Courtney Love going to catch that hot dose she's been dodging for 20 years now? Forgive them Kurt, they know not what they do.
Man, I don't even LIKE Nirvana... never understood the appeal of Nevermind when it came out and all my friends were listening to it, nor the cult of personality around Cobain... but I gotta say, Activision f-ing sucks for this. I fully agree with ArrestedDevelpor... this is fucking insulting for any fan of Cobains and even non-fans familiar with his story and partly why he offed himself.
Poor taste, Activision.
I expect their 9-11 themed Guitar Hero to be hitting in two years for the ten year anniversary.
I kinda like the fact that these games whore out dead rock stars. It's no worse than plastering their faces on t-shirts and incense holders. This business is about the money and Cobain will help make money. Save the outrage for something worth get outraged over.
I really don't see the problem in this.
Everyone is blaming activision when it's not exactly there fault.
Sure you can say they wanted him in the game but whoever held the rights or whatever it is to putting him in the game are the one's who allowed it.
How about we point the blame at the real culprit since if they had said no, Kurt wouldn't be in this game right now.
Why couldn't this have been Geddy Lee? And instead of Johnny Cash, maybe Dave Mustaine? Why did they insist on picking dead people who probably wouldn't even like this game? Makes no sense.
seeing him in this game makes my stomach turn. this is the worst thing courtney has done with kurt's legacy. fuck activision, fuck guitar hero, and i hope the plastic guitar genre fucking burns.
Apparently none of you have read Heavier than Heaven: a biography of Kurt Cobain, written by Charles R. Cross. It would give you an idea on what kind of person he was, and an insight on his opinion of this. Let me give you a little clue:
He wouldn't give a fuck! Go read the book, you'll know what I mean.
Regarding what Loogibot is saying, I do believe Heavier than Heaven's account of Kurt and his personally hinted that while he may have come across as one who didn't care for fame, fortunate, or establishment, that wasn't quite the case. I haven't read the book in its entirety, however, so I could be entire off base.
Thanks, Nick, that's basically what I'm trying to say. Cobain planned, as a child to become famous and "die" out quickly. According to the book, he didn't care about his name or Nirvana being used by corporation for monetary gains, as long as he got what he wanted. Like I said, he probably wouldn't have cared about this game and most likely would have scoffed it off.
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Contest:
5:40 PM on 08.28.2009
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Lets hope he comes back as a zombie to tell us what he thinks of this
but it's cool that they got a proper jagstang in his hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXO3OMGKPpw
He looks like a fish gasping for air. Fucking terrible.
On another note, looks like they got the shirtless long-haired Grohl drummin' back there.
@ArrestedDeveloper Ok I don't want to yell at you directly, it's just bad timing 'cause I've seen people say this time and again every time the whole Cobain thing is brought up on Dtoid but I think its pretty demeaning to say that Cobain killed himself because of "industry bullshit" Cobain wasn't so simple-minded to be like "Oh I'll show them, I'll show ALL of them" and off himself. If he wanted to get away from it all, he would have, easily and in a more literal sense. He killed himself because he was a lil drugged up, a lil addled, and done with a lot more than just industry bullshit.
You wanna see something REALLY atrocious? Check this out. Yes, that is Johnny Cash on drums, Santana on rhythm, and Cobain on lead... on a hair metal song. Also, Matt Bellamy from Muse singing. I had a little bit of respect for GH before seeing this. Never again.
Yes. Yes, he did.
Screw what other folks say, all of the drugs helped, the depression had a hand in it...but the way fame distorted the reality of his life was the deal-sealer. This is about the worst way to remember him.
I've said it once, I'll say it evermore - Activision, for whatever reason you choose to come up with, is the goddamned devil.
Sorry I mean, isn't this kind of thing the entire reason Courtney Love blew his brains out?
wow
He acts nothing like Cobain and sings like he is gulping massive amounts of air
Shocking stuff
Poor taste, Activision.
I expect their 9-11 themed Guitar Hero to be hitting in two years for the ten year anniversary.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/4/22/
Nah, it'll be like Call of Duty, except you play as the terrorists. They'll have run out of ideas by then.
Everyone is blaming activision when it's not exactly there fault.
Sure you can say they wanted him in the game but whoever held the rights or whatever it is to putting him in the game are the one's who allowed it.
How about we point the blame at the real culprit since if they had said no, Kurt wouldn't be in this game right now.
RIP Kurt, if you aren't...then come back to life and kill the CEO of Activision please!!!
See this Penny-Arcade:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/4/22/
He wouldn't give a fuck! Go read the book, you'll know what I mean.
Seriously do they really need shock value to sell these games?
Also, I'm sure Kurt wouldn't mind. Pretty much what Loogibot said. (You could also watch "About a Son", wich are a bunch of interviews with Cobain)
no. fucking. respect.