Preserve the Memory of Kurt Cobain

To:  Courtney Love/Estate of Kurt Cobain/Members of Nirvana/WB Network

10 years ago, the world lost one of its greatest music revolutionaries. The massive loss of Kurt Cobain can still be felt today – we’re stuck with a mainstream musical landscape filled with bland carbonated pop muzak and blatant Nirvana rip-offs. Members of a jaded generation are still left with the feeling that the possibility of change is a sadistic pipe-dream, and that price for believing in that dream is immense.

Because of who Kurt was and what he represented, many people hold him sacred. But for the same reasons many others realize how they can exploit him to make a quick buck. His deepest, innermost thoughts were laid bare a year and a half ago when his journals were published. We all knew that on the tenth anniversary of Kurt’s death we’d be bombarded with his image on the covers of glossy magazines and in bubblegum entertainment and news show segments. But today’s (April 16, 2004) headline on Billboard.com was just a little too much to stomach: “Cobain Pic Strikes Chord at WB.” According to the article, “The WB Network is developing an original movie about the life of rock icon Kurt Cobain. The network has obtained the rights to ‘Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain,’ the 2001 book by Charles Cross.” Tonight’s episodes of Smallville and 7th Heaven won’t be seen so we can present All Apologies: The Life and Death of Kurt Cobain and the Grunge Movement, Candy-Coloured and Re-Packaged for the Britney Generation. Starring Hillary Duff and that dreamy kid from The O.C. The clichéd phrase “rolling in his grave” comes to mind.

This film – well, actually, we can’t really call it a “film” – this movie of the week will be written by Robert Munic. Nothing against Mr. Munic – I can’t say that I’ve ever seen his work – which includes a role in the 1996 film Bordello of Blood – but it’s a little unnerving to know that Kurt’s life will be scripted by someone who’s t.v. movies have been described as “sanitized” and “in general this isn’t a very good movie, [but] for what it’s supposed to be tho (sic), it’s decent.”

The real travesty of the situation is that the man isn’t here to defend himself and protect his image. Yes, Kurt wanted to be a rock star. Yes, he hated everything that went along with it. But I’m sure he would not have wanted his memory to be turned into something so corporate, so commercial. To become a slickly-packaged joke, the Elvis of the 21st Century. Wasn’t watching a group of old French men in Moulin Rouge singing the chorus of Smells Like Teen Spirit bad enough?

No film could do Kurt Cobain’s legacy justice – especially not a “sanitized” MOW. The people who signed this petition believe this and hope put an end to this travesty before it happens. Let us keep our memories untainted. DO NOT let the WB Network – or any other television network – produce a bland biopic on the life of Kurt Cobain. Let the legacy of Nirvana and the man behind it live on through the fans and the music.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Preserve the Memory of Kurt Cobain Petition to Courtney Love/Estate of Kurt Cobain/Members of Nirvana/WB Network was created by and written by Michael G. Miller.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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