It’s the latest dispute between the album cover star and the band
Spencer Elden, the man who featured on the iconic cover for Nirvana’s Nevermind album, has asked for the original naked image of himself as a baby not be used as the record celebrates its 30th anniversary.
In August, Elden sued Universal for the use of the image of himself naked as a baby on the album’s cover, claiming that Nirvana and the record company had profited from “child pornography.”
Now, just ahead of the major 30-year anniversary of the record, his lawyer, Maggie Mabie, has asked that the company leave his genitalia out of all future reissues and releases of the album.
Mabbie told TMZ that it is time to “end this child exploitation and violation of privacy,” and that every year Elden has to deal with unwanted attention from the media and fans when the album’s anniversary comes round.
He also wants the album cover to be altered for any re-releases issued to mark the 30th anniversary this year.
Mabie said: “If there is a 30th anniversary re-release, he wants for the entire world not to see his genitals.”
In the lawsuit filed by Eden earlier this year, he said that Universal “intentionally commercially marketed Spencer’s child pornography and leveraged the shocking nature of his image to promote themselves and their music at his expense” and caused him “lifelong damages.”
He is suing more than a dozen defendants, including the estate of Kurt Cobain and former band member Dave Grohl, for at least $150,000.
The suit states: “Cobain chose the image depicting Spencer – like a sex worker – grabbing for a dollar bill that is positioned dangling from a fishhook in front of his nude body with his penis explicitly displayed.”
His lawyer said he was bringing the action now because he “finally has the courage to hold these actors accountable.”
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