The Energon Pub

In the recent Guitar Hero, I noticed the unlockable characters includes (the late) Kurt Cobain. This under much debate, saying Kurt wouldn't have liked this, but what about Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix? Who's to say they wouldn't want in? I'll leave it up to you guys. I personaly like playing as Kurt, but when I do, I always play Lithium or Teen Spirit in the setlist.

First off, is this really a philosophical discussion? Arguing over whether or not someone deserved an appearance in a video game doesn't seem like a very philosophical debate.

Second, Hendrix doesn't have any songs on GH5 if I remember right, and Cash only used acoustic guitars, which would kind of stick out in a game primarily featuring electric guitars. "Wow, Johnny Cash sure is rocking out to Bon Jovi...with his magic guitar that makes sounds that it's not supposed to make."

I'm not sure I understand what the philosophical question here is, either. Would Cobain want to be in the game? Is it right to put him in the game? Don't really know what the question is to respond to.

On a sidenote: Not only is no Jimi Hendrix song in GH5 (though he's a playable character in World Tour), it's a shame his stuff hasn't been in *any* GH or RB game, especially when Abnormality (who?), The Sword (who?), Anouk (who?), Vagiant (who?), and the Libyans (who?) are.

I suspect it's really more of an *ethical* question than *philosophical*, but that's not grounds for dismissing it.

Cobain was notoriously anti-materialistic and hated the consumerist culture of America. He even, if memory serves, was uncomfortable with Nirvana's success as 'popular' music--the very same people he was deriding in "Teen Spirit" were the ones who embraced the song. Because, y'know, irony is like all hip and ****.

So, from that standpoint, doesn't it go against Cobain's basic core beliefs to then be whored out as a video game character? Should Mr. Anti-Consumer become a consumer commodity?

Another way to look at it is, would a staunch individualist be comfortable with being turned into something that pretty much anyone who shells out $50 (or however much the game costs) can manipulate?

HK, or...maybe I'm totally off base.

So, from that standpoint, doesn't it go against Cobain's basic core beliefs to then be whored out as a video game character?

Normally yes, but the check they gave to Courtney Love had too many zeros on it to refuse.

Skyfire77 wrote:

So, from that standpoint, doesn't it go against Cobain's basic core beliefs to then be whored out as a video game character?

Normally yes, but the check they gave to Courtney Love had too many zeros on it to refuse.

She had full control of his likeness in the game.

I its Right that we have an iconic rock musicician in the game but wrong because he isnt a guitar wiz like hendrix or slash.

I'd be beside myself if they featured famous guitar virtuosos like Malmsteen, Vai, Satriani or even Buckethead.

Cobain (whom I loved dearly as a musician) was a pile of inconsistent behaviors.

He shunned practice and publically talked about how musicians should just play with raw unbridled emotion. A whole, 'F' Precision' philosophy.

Yet...people close to him revealed that he practiced his guitar work relentlessly.

Simply put we have no idea what his thoughts would be on being in a video game.

Even if he had thoughts about being in one, it would have been based on video games available at the time he would have discussed the matter. Video Games and other medias have changed since his death and the whole current crop of music games might have been of interest to him.

Even if we were to say, Kurt was alive and the events of whatever happened that day never occured, but Nirvana still broke up, Krist went on his other endeavors and Dave went to form Foo Fighters. Who's to say what Kurt would have done, start another band, go solo, clean up Courtney and do a variety or reality show, writing producing other bands, whatever.. regardless of his former concerns, he may have embraced the gh games and been happy to have his likeness in the game.

I own GH5, and I quite enjoy it, but to be honest, I find the whole debate to be foolish. It's cool he's in the game, same with Johnny Cash and Shirly Manson. I loved in world tour when the New York stage had a super band with Ozzy singing other tracks, but unlike the silly comments of Courtney Love or No Doubt, I have never thought about "oh, I didn't know they did this song, and wow they sound french" I know that the activities of their avatars are not the actions of the people, and honestly I find the fact they believe that their fans are that thick, is outright insulting. That said and done, when I play I field my own band of custom characters so when I play It's my band playing and i'm happier seeing my virtual band "Danboard X" preform and they don't need Kurt Cobain on stage to rock out.

Editor wrote:Shirly Manson

Still hot.

Counterpunch wrote:

Editor wrote:Shirly Manson

Still hot.

Not hot.