Nirvana Doesn’t Think Nevermind “child-pornography lawsuit” Is Serious

Nirvana Doesn’t Think Nevermind “child-pornography lawsuit” Is Serious | Society Of Rock Videos

via John Chapple / Youtube

Nirvana‘s 1991 sophomore album Nevermind which sold more than 30 million copies has one of the most iconic album covers in the music history. A lot of things have changed since its debut and one of these is the baby on the cover Spencer Elden who is all grown up now.

The baby we all know from the album is now 30 years old and suing the band for child pornography, saying that he was unable to consent to having his image used at that time. Elden was photographed in a Pasadena swimming pool at the age of 4 months and he is only applying for his rejections recently.

According to Variety, Elden is seeking $150,000 from each of 17 named defendants, including record executives, Nirvana band members, and Courtney Love, the former wife and executor of Kurt Cobain’s estate. But according to Nirvana’s lawyers, Elden “has spent three decades profiting from his celebrity as the self-anointed ‘Nirvana Baby.’”

This includes the re-enacted photographs Elden did in exchange for fees many times. He even got the album title ‘Nevermind’ tattooed across his chest and has appeared on a talk show wearing a self-parodying, nude-colored onesie. Elden also has autographed copies of the album cover for sale on eBay and alleged that he “used the connection to try to pick up women.”

Based on the lawsuit, Elden’s parents were paid $200 for the photo, but never signed a release authorizing its use. In past interviews, Elden has expressed mixed feelings over the photo, but had never described it as pornographic. Because of these, Nirvana has issued an official response to the lawsuit calling the case “not serious”.

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