Courtney gives ex-Nirvana members proposal
The battle for the control of Nirvana’s musical legacy may be heading into extra innings, after Courtney Love’s latest proposal to break the stalemate.
MTV reports Love — widow of Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain — has issued a new proposal to her late husband’s bandmates, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, in an attempt to resolve the impasse over how to control future Nirvana releases.
The report said Love’s side has proposed that, for the next 10 years, no new Nirvana material could be released unless Grohl, Novoselic and Cobain’s estate (i.e., Love) unanimously agree.
Under the deal, Cobain’s estate would control all licensing of Nirvana’s music for movies and commercials, but Grohl and Novoselic would have veto over licensing for the next 10 years. The estate would also control use of Nirvana’s name, likeness and image for any documentary films based on the band. Love would also control the hiring of lawyers and accountants working in the band’s interest — although, again, Novoselic and Grohl would have veto on any hirings for the next 10 years, MTV said.
Under the current arrangement, control of Nirvana’s music is under an equal partnership agreement Novoselic, Grohl and Love signed after Cobain’s suicide. Disputes over the arrangement led to the cancellation of a planned Nirvana box set of unreleased material. Love has instead insisted on releasing a single CD best-of, featuring “You Know You’re Right” — reportedly the last song the band recorded before Cobain’s death.
Love sued in May, 2001 to dissolve the partnership, claiming it is “non-functional.” All sides claim they want “You Know You’re Right” released in some form by the end of the year.
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