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Nirvana on Broadway rumors circulate while ‘offensive’ sitcom in the works
Oct 25, 2012, 6:49 PM | Updated: 7:13 pm
Cross said "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is one of the few tracks where all the main players are invested: Kurt's daughter, Frances Bean, Courtney Love, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic.
Nirvana on Broadway? The story of Kurt and Courtney in song? Those are the rumors circulating after Courtney Love’s co-manager spilled a conversation of alleged half-truths Wednesday.
Kurt Cobain biographer Charles Cross said he hadn’t heard of such plans, but that doesn’t mean they’re not being discussed.
“Broadway is a peculiar kind of beast,” Cross explained on the Ron & Don Show. “What I can tell you definitively is: They cannot make a musical that has any connection to Kurt, Dave or Krist’s life unless those estates or those people sign off on it.”
It’s a popular route to take for some bands. Green Day wrote their own musical, and The Who signed off on one too.
What a Broadway producer could do, according to Cross, is roughly base the story around certain lives. He says the 2010 Tony Award winner “Memphis” is good example of that tactic.
More likely, he explains, is the possibility of a movie. It would also need to be signed off on by people and estates, but several Nirvana movies have been quietly talked about in Hollywood, including Cross’ own.
Cross said his book has been optioned and while there are no actors cast, no director, and a screenplay hasn’t been settled on, he has high hopes.
What is in the works, however, upsets Cross a great deal.
From the creators of the “Big Bang Theory” comes “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
“It is based around Nirvana in that it’s based around the 90’s. They’re using the title to touch on people’s emotional connections of that era.”
The sitcom won’t be able to use any of Nirvana’s music, but legally, no one can stop producers from using the title.
Cross said “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is one of the few tracks where all the main players are invested: Kurt’s daughter, Frances Bean, Courtney Love, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic.
“They all would be offended by the idea that there is going to be a television show.”
Charles Cross will be signing copies of his new book about Heart with the Wilson sisters 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Northgate Barnes & Noble.
