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Bon Jovi fears to tread where Cobain rushed in
Last week, two former Nirvana band members raised a fuss about how silly it was to have Kurt Cobain as a playable character in Guitar Hero 5, singing silly songs next to silly Xbox avatars. They want Activision to re-lock the character, which probably isn't going to happen. But I agree with them, so I'm happy to voluntarily re-lock Mr. Cobain's character model and let Johnny Cash, Shirley Manson, and Carlos Santana look silly singing "Du Hast" next to my Xbox Live avatar.
And now Jon Bon Jovi (pictured, far right...I think) weighs in on the issue, talking to the BBC while promoting his latest album. He claims Activision wanted him to be one of the playable characters.I had the paperwork, they wanted me to be on that game and I just passed. 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...To hear someone else's voice coming out of a cartoon version of me? I don't know. It sounds a little forced.
Somehow, I doubt he would have minded. The dude was in that National Lampoon hockey comedy a few years ago. Virtually singing "Play That Funky Music" is hardly going to hurt his image now.
By DeScr at 6:43 AM ON 09/19/09
I fully understand if Activision didn't fully disclose that Kurt Cobain would have been playable that it'd be an issue.
That aside I really don't see why Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl had a problem with it.
I mean... I can almost feel where they're coming from, having lost a good friend, that they'd be sensitive to something like this.
But it's a tribute, an homage to a great artist, and being able to play him while playing other people's songs doesn't detract from his legacy.
By budgethero at 2:24 PM ON 09/21/09
well, on the one hand, u have people's image and likeness. and just because they're famous, and we are their fans, doesnt mean we have cart blanch to do with and to ask to do as we please with their image.
on the other hand, it could be that the celebs are over reacting over relatively nothing. its just them singing other groups's songs. Metalica's singer sang a Korn song at a concert. it wasnt silly, and i dont think Korn minded.
so far Yoko hasnt said anything about Beatles Rock Band. but from what i hear, the game is packed with obvious love for the Beatles, and that there is a great deal of care taken with the game. yet again, video games make new and unusual moral/legal/philosophical gray areas.
budgethero:
well, on the one hand, u have people's image and likeness. and just because they're famous, and we are their fans, ...More »