Kurt's Tragic Rebirth

Swirling amidst a controversy of an ex-band mate, an ex-wife, and the makers of Guitar Hero 5, is the digital likeness of one Kurt Donald Cobain. One might ask, Didn't Kurt Cobain commit suicide fifteen years ago because of the commercialization, and subsequent desensitization, of his music? Yes. One might also ask, Wouldnt a reputable and experienced gaming company such as Activision be sure to obtain the rights to Kurt Cobains image for use as an avatar in a video game? And if so, how? Again, the answer is yes.

A cynic might theorize that Activision obtained the rights to use Cobains image simply to stir up this controversy and reinvigorate a franchise thats completely oversaturated the market of rhythm games. I, as it turns out, am a cynic. Anyone whos ever heard anything about Kurt Cobain knows that hed never allow for such foolishness, and as such, theres no other reason to disrespect Cobains obvious wishes than simple, unadulterated financial gain. How quickly Activision forgets that without Cobain in the early 1990s, rock and roll, as we know it, was all but dead.

Nirvanas catalogue has been notoriously protected from things like, say, a video game using Kurt Cobains image to sing songs like Billy Idols Dancing with myself or Rammsteins Du Hast or even Bon Jovis You Give Love a Bad Name. To tarnish the legacy of one of modern rocks most beloved and tragic heroes is, to many, the ultimate insult. Which begs the question: Was it worth it?

I want the answer to be NO. The game play is the same. The playlist is mediocre in comparison to previous games. Reviewers are generally unimpressed with Guitar Hero 5, and I both agree and disagree. While I find Activisions now infamous Cobain stunt despicable, I quickly and easily find myself addicted to all rhythm games. Yes, I know its silly. Yes, I do play a real instrument, and yes, in retrospect I wish I could have all of those eye-melting, foot-tapping, and talent-eroding hours back so that I could practice said real instrument. I sure didnt learn anything aside from the lyrics to a bunch of old rock tunes, and it did make my stomach turn like Kurt in his grave to see his absurd avatar strumming and belting away. So in that sense it wasnt worth it. But man, is it fun to play Guitar Hero 5 " or Guitar Hero 1 for that matter. The only way to set the new installment apart was to add something so repulsive that fans wouldnt be able to look away from the train wreck. Congratulations, Activision. Mission: Accomplished.