The upcoming 30th anniversary edition of Nirvana‘s landmark 10x multi-platinum certified 1991 sophomore album “Nevermind” has stirred up some ultimately expected controversy. In late August it was revealed that the album’s cover model Spencer Elden, had filed suit against the estate of the band’s late vocalist/guitarist Kurt Cobain, the album’s photographer Kirk Weddle, DGC Records and more.
In his suit he alleges that the naked photo of him on the cover, which was taken when he was four-months-old, was snapped without his consent and without the consent of his legal guardians at the time. He further alleged that the cover art amounted to child pornography and child sexual exploitation. According to Elden, the image has caused him to suffer “lifelong damages”.
Over the years Elden has had a complicated relationship with the album cover, having gotten “Nevermind” tattooed across his chest and having recreated the the cover art in a photoshoot back in 2016. He is seeking $150,000 from each defendant in the suit and hopes to have the matter resolved in a trial by jury. You can read more on that here.
The decision to leave the cover intact for the group’s upcoming expanded 30th anniversary edition hasn’t sat well with Elden. TMZ report that Elden‘s lawyer Maggie Mabie is demanding that UMe redact the image of her client’s genitalia from all future releases of the album, stating it’s time to “end this child exploitation and violation of privacy.”
The 30th anniversary edition of “Nevermind” is headed for a November 12th release on UMe and will feature an additional four live concerts as well as newly remastered audio. You can read more on it here.
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