Courtney Love is starting a war with The Muppets now? The provocative lead singer of Hole, widow of deceased Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, reportedly is preparing to battle Kermit, Miss Piggy and their affiliates for allegedly using the rock band’s classic hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” in their 2011 film release, “The Muppets.”
According to TMZ, Love has control over use of Cobain’s music for commercial purposes, and never gave approval for inclusion in the movie.
It may not be a slam-dunk case for the singer, however. The report also mentions Love sold a portion of her rights, along with the power to distribute Nirvana's catalog, to music publisher Primary Wave Music.
Love held her rights to the Nirvana catalog tightly since Cobain’s death in 1994, yet her own financial woes have significantly loosened up her stance. In 2006, she sold 25 percent of the work for $50 million, and MSN reports that in 2011, she was considering selling off the remainder" after becoming convinced the royalty payments she receives are ‘cursed.’”
The value of the remaining catalog is estimated to be worth $162 million.
Nevertheless, the rocker’s vengeance on the Muppets may not be the best use of her time and legal fees. Surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic evidently both gave their blessings to the production. Love has gone to court with them in the past over use of previously unreleased Nirvana material, but settled.
And it appears that the world is on the side of The Muppets.
“Are you kidding me?” writes Robert on TMZ. “Cobain actually had a sense of humor. He enjoyed the Weird Al cover and I'm sure he would have liked this.”
Tweets writer Matt Parker, “Courtney Love has never been known for picking her battles well, but The Muppets!?”
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