what does the nirvana nevermind cover mean

Relying on the shock value of the album cover to drive up sales.Įlden is working with the Marsh Law Firm, based in New York. Maggie Mabie, one of the attorneys handling Elden’s case, believes that the band was banking on “controversy sells” to sell their album.

Meaning that there are around 40 or 50 different photos of Elden. Photographer Kirk Weddle “activated Spencer’s ‘gag reflex’ before throwing him underwater in poses highlighting and emphasizing Spencer’s exposed genitalia.” Adding that “at least one or more film cartridges” were used throughout the photoshoot. The lawsuit describes the behind-the-scenes process of taking the Nevermind album photo. “Defendants intentionally commercially marketed Spencer’s child pornography,” states the lawsuit filed “and leveraged the shocking nature of his image to promote themselves and their music at his expense.” Lewis, describes the image of Elden in that photo as “like a sex worker” as he reaches out for the bill while nude underwater. The album has generally been known as a statement on capitalism, but Elden’s lawyer, Robert Y. ģ0 years after this photo was taken, the album and it’s cover photo becoming classics, Spencer Elden is suing the band on the grounds that the photo is an exhibition of child pornography.

The album itself has become iconic as well, containing songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Lithium, and Come As You Are. One of Elden’s baby photos includes that of him submerged underwater and grabbing at a digitally imposed image of a bill on a hook.Įlden, now a 30-year-old artist living in Los Angeles County, is the model in the iconic album cover for Nirvana’s Nevermind. On August 24, Spencer Elden filed a case to sue the rock band Nirvana.Ī lot of people might not know his name, but they’ve most likely seen his face (or at least his baby face).

What does the nirvana nevermind cover mean