In 1991, when he was 4 months old, Elden was photographed naked in a swimming pool reaching for a dollar bill on a fish hook, an image that become one of the most iconic album covers of all time. The federal judge dismissed the case Monday with 'leave to amend' – as Spencer Elden's legal team had missed a deadline to file an opposition to Nirvana lawyers' December motion to dismiss the case.Įlden's team has until Jan. Rather than just taking the genitals off, it could be a massive platform for good.The man suing the band Nirvana for sexual exploitation after being prominently featured on the cover of their album 'Nevermind' as a baby had his case dismissed by a California judge on procedural grounds. You could use the original and then completely annihilate it by finding an artist saying something relevant. “I would use the existing image, but start integrating it into a collage with graffiti from a street artist, or commission a female artist who was able to make a really political statement. But it could be an avenue for creativity and the chance to make something relevant for very changed times. It’s going to get completely slated by everybody because nobody is going to think it’s as good as something that sold millions and is an iconic sleeve. Head of creative, Beggars Group (David Bowie, Blur, Pulp) But I don’t think you can stray too far from the original without upsetting fans too much.” Alison Fielding “If you were to completely redo it, you could do something cool with the texture of pool water – like have the dollar bill just floating in a pool and reimagine it without the baby involved. “My first instinct is to pay homage to the original, so I would crop in and focus more on keeping the baby’s head … I’d put it in the bottom-left corner and then have the dollar bill floating up on the right side. Graphic designer (Madonna, Foo Fighters, BTS) My job is to make the artist’s visions beautiful, not conform – I don’t care about the general public, especially on a seminal album like Nevermind.” “I would want to be respectful to Kurt’s wishes. Then if people want to see where that came from, you could have an inner fold-out, layered over the baby, that tells Kurt’s original narrative. I don’t care if you like me I hate you.’ So I would scrap the baby and scrap the water and have a giant sticker on it with that quote. Something Kurt said about people buying his music, was: ‘If you’re a sexist, racist, homophobe or basically an asshole, don’t buy this CD. The cover is supposed to be provocative, so I’d start there. “I would collaborate with Robert Fisher to do a contemporary version of Kurt’s original vision. A huge sweaty montage that gets taken from place to place and keeps building up, all in honour of this album.” Matt de Jongĭesigner and creative director (Arlo Parks, Interpol, J Hus) Jumpers, fake eyelashes, lost keys, all collected and bundled up as well. People could do what they want and so it would end up with sweat, piss and guts on the floor. I’d take an aerial shot of all that, so that way everybody owns it. Then the fans make the artwork by being there with all their sweat and debris and leftovers. “I’d throw a party and take it on tour with loads of fans and have a travelling canvas that would be rolled up from venue to venue, retracing Nirvana’s 1990 tour. Photograph: Paul Bergen/Redferns Tash Willcocks Kurt Cobain at a gig in Frankfurt in 1991.

Something from a different angle that creates a different perspective – something that brings it into the future without dismissing the past.” Did he have a B-side creative direction? Maybe find a different version of the photo, like one where you just see the baby’s ass. I would go back to Kurt Cobain’s original visions. “I wouldn’t want to bring too much of my own personality in. The symbolism of it matches this lawsuit perfectly: it’s that same kid going after the dollar. You have to use the original album cover and make a comment on it. Nevermind changed my life, so it would be so hard to remove 30 years of that album. I’d struggle coming at it with a clear slate. “I can’t think of a job with heavier connotations and public impact. Marq SpustaĪrtist and illustrator (designed covers for Dinosaur Jr, Ween, Grateful Dead) How do you redesign one of the most famous albums ever? We asked five artists and designers how they would tackle the daunting brief.

Original nirvana nevermind cover