Kiedis's Cobain reenactment: Disrespectful?

se4nh4rt

If anything, it was paying homage to the legends of rock. I mean, Nirvana did open up for RHCP on their west coast tour in 1991 along with their supposed rivals Pearl Jam. If anything, RHCP was reenacting out of appreciation.

stonesgstring

I don't think it was meant disrespectfully at all. Anthony even said himself about the video that they were honouring each past phase in rock and roll. Key defining moments. It was just about capturing that in one go. Come on playing the part of Nirvana was probably the easiest out of all the grunge bands, and they needed people to realise they were talking about that particular genre.

Oh, Jimmy

Anybody that thinks its disrespectful is being a pussy.


Whoever said the only reason people heard of PJ, SG, AIC etc. etc. needs to do some reading.

The groundwork for PJ was put into place long before Nirvana, and they had a record deal before Nevermind was released.

SG was critically acclaimed before Nirvana, and Badmotorfinger smokes everything Nirvana did.

AIC was the epitome of grunge. Its the one band from Seattle that truly fits the label. I cant think of a work to better describe their music.

Nirvana was the weakest band from the scene. The lyrics are all way overrated. No way can they stand with PJ or AIC. And, aside from the drumming, their technical skills leave alot to be desired, esp when compared to the other big 3.

Nirvana fans wanna think that nobody else woulda made it without them, but thats just not true.

Ledbetterman10

whatsthefreezer wrote:

Well considering these are the same guys that got famous for putting socks on their dicks it didn't really surprise me. I was almost waiting for the part where they'd mock Nirvana or Pearl Jam.

they weren't "mocking" Nirvana....it was a tribute. Not disrespectful at all

turquoisetrouble

bump........... (see new write-up on initial post)

mattman

I didn't find it disrespectful at all. At the end of the clip Kiedis sings "gone too fast." If anything, it was a respectful homage to the man. Kiedis and the Chilis are original, and were popular around the time Nirvana was. If anything, they are paying respect to their peers.

What I find truly disrespectful are all these post grunge wanabees that try to mimic the sounds of Cobain and other grunge groups.

Kiedis was simply paying respect to the man. If it came off as disrespectful, it certainly wasn't the band's intent.

Also, if I recall correctly, Nirvana loved the mock video that Weird Al made about them. I'm pretty certain that Kurt would not have minded if the rhcps mimicked him in one of their videos.

depplover

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/05/19/nirvana_fans_disturbed_by_red_hot_chili_

mookeywrench

this is kurt cobain we're talking about.....the man wrote a song about beans, a moist vagina, and marijuana.

i dont think he took himself too seriously as an artist nor should we.

DieasGrey

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

Not to change the subject.. but since it already has..

Nirvana was the weakest band from the era.

Pixies (little before, but since you already mentioned them...)
Pearl Jam
Screaming Trees
SOUNDGARDEN
Alice
Mother Love Bone even..

Nirvana just doesn't hold up.

look at the unplugged show.. what were the highlights?

when the meatpuppets came out and showed Kurt what playing a guitar well looked like..

and their Bowie and Ledbelly covers..

and maybe all apologies..

Great band (nirvana) but don't try to compare them to the rest of that crowd...

and in Utero beat the hell out of Nevermind :cool:

I agree.

As for the disrespectful......the man made millions of dollars and then killed himself. Then he was some kind of rock martyr. I thought he was overhyped and not nearly talented enough to fit his own reputation. If he was murdered ,maybe (and im not goingi in to all the conspericy theories).

How many people mock Elvis .
Its part of the game.

turquoisetrouble

When I made the initial post, I thought my point was obvious, and that many would agree. I was quite surprised, and maybe wouldn't have posted it, if I knew what reactions awaited me.
And it was weird to come to discover that Kurt Cobain really means a lot to me personally, more for me than for anyone else who responded to my post. Some things you can't explain easily. I don't even listen to his music too much. I could go on and on about my life, and what I was going through during the early 1990's, and why I was affected in the way I was my Nirvana, and in particular Kurt, but the why's and the how's maybe aren't the most important things here. It just is, it's just a condition I have. Although to give you a glimpse, it just seemed that we had things in common, important, deep and sucky things that brought us to the edge of death, and for him, to death. I knew his depressing depths.
Some say that he didn't take himself seriously. Sometimes he didn't, but sometimes I'm sure he did. Some say we shouldn't take him too seriously. Too late for me, I do. And honestly, I love him. Not in a psycho way, mind you, but as an inspiration. Some ask how can someone who shot himself be an inspiration. Well, I remember the accomplishments he had before he shot himself, and I know of some of his experiences, and I just felt a connection to him like I've had for no other public figure. This may not be logical (why put him before people who have cured diseases and led progressive political movements), but emotions aren't logical always.
So, to the people who don't like Kurt Cobain on this board, who I enjoy speaking and debating with since I definitely respect that to many people he's just another musician, please respect that I love Kurt Cobain for personal reasons. As people passionate about music, we all probably have some musical figure, or music, that means a lot to us. I'm stuck with Kurt, and I guess I shouldn't fight it.
So, now that I've put together my feelings on the subject, I am definitely a biased person when it comes to analyzing what happened with the video. It's just a fucking video, I know this. But my emotions don't know this. So, I hate it.
That being said, I like the Peppers, and I actually really respect David Grohl, despite the fact that I said he has poor taste in the revised initial post. Grohl is a great drummer, and I really respect the fact that he carried on with his own band after Nirvana. He has an awesome sense of humor. I really love the first Foo Fighters record, and was in awe of him when that came out (wrote all songs, played all instruments). Liked the second album too. I've seen them live at least three times, and he's the best. So why did I say Grohl has poor taste. Heat of the moment to make an argument. And, in defense of him in this situation, he may have felt pressure to agree with what the Peppers were doing. Wouldn't it be awkward to tell someone that they're doing something in poor taste with respect to the dead? That's kind of an awkward thing to say. I would bet that Grohl isn't too happy that his name is being dropped as an endorser of the video. (here I go again.)
And as to whether Flea was kicking and screaming, I obviously don't know this. But I definitely want to believe this.
And, I truly still do believe that the record company put them up to it. Corporate greed and art are such a mismatch sometimes. But it's part of the reality of today's culture, and it's interesting how the two interrelate.

Y2A 66

This is ridiculous...maybe they just really like Cobain and wanted to have Kiedis portraying him in their video. I don't see what this disrespect is all about. I mean I love Kurt Cobain and his music but people treat him like he is god just because he's dead.

Chiel

Kiedis has said in an interview that Kurt Cobain was the best performer of the last 15 years and that he always was in awe with his art and music...

pjalive21

why do we glorify someone who was cowardly and blew his head off??

he is NO rock god and never will be....period

as far as the video it was harmless and nothing distasteful...why is there no cry for any of the other parodies???

like someone said just because he killed himself does that mean he gets a pass at getting mocked a little?? if anything he should be mocked more

look how videos mock Elvis?? being fat and on drugs at the end of his life and he is the King of Rock n Roll and did more for music than Cobain ever could of

wash_

If a band that wasn't around when Nirvana were did the same thing I would be more at ease with it. But the fact that they were releasing albums, touring and such at the same time makes it slightly in poor taste. I guess its a generational thing...bit more risqe (sp?)
to imitate a fellow band around at the same time than one in past decades.

brain of c

who cares?

harmless_little_f***

Is every band who has been parodied over the years (note: I say 'parodied', not 'mocked') still living? Hendrix has had this treatment forever, and no-one cries over it.

The fact that Cobain killed himself only gives it less reason to be sentimentalised, IMO. Not more.