Piggy-backing on the Pearl Jam news, folks is going apeshit over the cartoon representation of Kurt Cobain in the new Guitar Hero game. The objections seem to break down as follows:
1) The makers of the game didn't properly buy the rights to use his likeness (they claim they did).
2) How dare you put cartoon Kurt in your crummy game!
3) How dare you put cartoon Kurt in your crummy game, and then force him to sing Billy Joel songs, Journey songs, etc!
I don't really agree with any of the objections. Cobain's image arguably crossed the threshold long ago wherein it enters into a popular lexicon and therefore can be used an all sorts of creative works. I've always been suspicious of Cobain's overinflated influence on 90's music--I don't for a minute buy all the anti-corporate purity that his fans ascribe to him or his music, nor the sanctification of his life, image, and ideals that was peddled incessantly in the wake of his suicide. If your sense of grunge mystique is offended by a cartoon likeness of Kurt singing "Only the Good Die Young" in a video game, then I think you need to get over yourself and Kurt (hint hint, Dave Grohl).
Any musician that takes the stage is assuming a "character," putting on a costume, putting forth an image. Cobain's grungy clothes are just as much a costume as Freddie Mercury's tight red pants or KISS's silver heels and armor.
