Guitar Hero makers confirm resurrection of Kurt Cobain!

Fri, 28 Aug 2009

While games such as Guitar Hero can cause some debate and controversy from those of us who enjoy playing the real thing, the game’s popularity among the young, and the not so young, cannot be ignored. 

Today, as the September 1st release date of Guitar Hero’s 5th edition looms, the makers announce that none other than the legendary Kurt Cobain will be making an appearance.

As LickLibrary recently reported, it is now 20 years since the release of Nirvana’s debut album Bleach. To mark this seminal occasion, Sub-Pop will release a re-mastered special edition of Bleach, including a live performance recorded in 1990 at Pine Street Theatre, Portland. Now it appears game-makers Activision will also be honouring the anniversary, by re-incarnating Cobain in digital form for Guitar Hero 5. 

No small feat when you consider the resonating effect Nirvana have had on the rock world, as well as Cobain’s own status among the real "Guitar Heroes" of the 20th Century. And even more problematic when you consider the legal implications of releasing / re-releasing anything Nirvana-related, and bringing the warring factions of Dave Grohl and Courtney Love into some form of agreement. 

It could be for these reasons, that the concept of using Nirvana classics, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Lithium” in the game took years to come to fruition. The decision to use the 1992 Reading Festival performance of Lithium was extremely good timing, especially when former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl is tipped to be secretly returning to his “favourite festival” this year with Them Crooked Vultures.
However, Nirvana will surely win over the hearts and minds of a new generation of kids who desire little more than to play guitar, even if it is a digital recreation, and a new generation of budding musicians will get a glimpse into the song-writing and passion which made Nirvana so legendary, and so loved.

The game, due out on September 1st, and Nirvana will be joined by the equally legendary Santana, as well as Post-Punk counterparts Sonic Youth, and Brit-Poppers Blur.

Guitar Hero enthusiasts could probably benefit from the following related material:

Learn to Play Nirvana
Nirvana JamTrax
Learn to Play Santana
Drum Legends Dave Grohl
Play Guitar with Blur