Bon Jovi turned down inclusion in Guitar Hero 5, supports Love

by Ben Gilbert on Sep 17th 2009 11:30AM

Even though his songs have landed in music games far and wide, Jon Bon Jovi said in a recent interview that he turned down Activision's offer to be included as a playable character in Guitar Hero 5. "They [Activision] wanted me to be on that game and I just passed," Bon Jovi told the BBC. "To hear someone else's voice coming out of a cartoon version of me? I don't know," he added, siding with Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love, and others tied to the Nirvana estate, against the use of Cobain's likeness in GH5.

Bon Jovi explained that no one at Activision "even broached the subject with me that I would be singing other people's stuff ... I don't know how I would have reacted to that." In the meantime, Activision has retorted that Love did evidently sign a contract -- but according to Bon Jovi's statements, it appears as though she may have not reacted to the fine print.

Source

Tags: activision, bbc, bon-jovi, business, courtney-love, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-5, jon-bon-jovi, kurt-cobain, Microsoft, music, Nintendo, rhythm, Wii, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (66)

Interesting...

I find it VERY interesting because it's not all about the money or fame. I can respect Bon Jovi's reasoning as a person.

I find it ridiculous -

@#$% off Bon Jovi and get over yourself.

If you lived anywhere near Philly or NJ you'd know that Bon Jovi is as awesome a person as any celebrity can be. Don't take his message the wrong way.

And if you lived anywhere else you'd realize he's kind of a douche.

Oh for fuck's sake people, it's fucking karaoke.

@"BJ is Gooder"

Care to explain? While I like Bon Jovi's music I can say I know much about the man's life or personality. He hasn't made the news in the way, say Kayne West has. So why do you think he such a dick?

I mean any star is likely to be a least a little egotistical.

Captain Planet finally hit the nail on the head.

Son, I always hit the nail on the head.

[nail = my penis]
[head = your mother's taint]

/hug

I love you Captain Plan.... uh, Dad?

@Captain Planet
Good point...they should disable the ability to sing Nirvana's songs with your own voice. Seeing as how the average gamer's inability to sing will be translated as a slander on the good name of Cobain

I'm *really* curious what that contract actually said. From everything I'm reading, it doesn't seem like it was obvious that Activision was going to allow these characters to sing other artists' songs.

She gave them frakking permission to use his likeness, they have the signed papers where she gave it. The only reason she's whining is because people called her out on it. I'm betting she got a pretty decent penny for it, too.

Wow! You really watched too much battlestar galactica.

I agree.. they should stop frakking up and get the the frakking point. Otherwise, someone will get frakked. Anyway.. it's only karaoke.. frakkers.

It was all a ploy by Courtney Love and her new husband Bobby Kotick, to make a endless amount of money to fuel their greed as they plan the greatest wedding and prepare to pay for genetically engineered kids that live on money not blood.

@Sean

i think that she should have never signed, even if she is a money grubbing whore, Curt's image should never be used in any game just cause i feel it cheaps his life and death

As does misspelling his name.

So, wait, the other dead rockers they've had in there aren't cheapened? Because I'd argue that Hendrix and Cash have far better musical legacies than Cobain does.

My thoughts exactly. You make me and the rest of the Planeteers proud Michael T.

Even *I* pity tha Nash...

I used my power to pity him because he's a fool.

to be truthful i don't really like his music, i just think that they really should not be using his, as for hendrix and cash's images being used in the games, i do agree that it cheapens their legacies and that they have way better music, also sorry for ticking of the planeteers i'll try to make sure my spelling is correct in the future, but you really should be a little nicer(especially Micheal T) cause right now all of you planteers are making Kotick look like the most saintliest man on the planet

I knew I gave you that Power for a reason. Pity away!

Man, calm down. My rampant pedantry is really just all for show.

And when you have the power of Mr. T, fool-pitying is what you do. Though based on your logical, cogent response, I hereby rescind your "fool" status.

I'll try not let power go my head. Gaia would not approve.

We had to get her high off her ass to sign that contract.

well seeing as how he is a musician and would actually know how it would feel to have him singing other people's stuff, I feel he is a decent person to hear an opinion from. Unlike you AchNova who is not a musician and wouldnt understand and respect IP in that scene.

Looks like Activision wanted anyone - dead or alive.

Sorry.

Well they are livin' on a prayer the way they've been running their own franchise into the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRFUv2rG244&feature=related

...I don't like buckcherry

It just depends on the person you're talking about. If they put, say, Elvis into the game, it would be seen as a tribute and celebration. But you put in someone like Kurt who was EXTREMELY vocal about his likes and dislikes, then you're doing a dishonor to his legacy.

Just like that damn Kurt Cobain action figure. Kurt probably would have hated it and he would have hated the people who bought it.

And yes, its all Love's fault... her dumb ass signed the contract. She has no qualms about selling Nirvana out, she just knows to take it slowly so too many people don't get on her case about it.

Who really cares? If you love Nirvana and don't want to see him sing someone else's music, you know what, don't use his character on non-Nirvana music. It's that simple people. And if that's not enough, don't buy the game.

"And if that's not enough, don't buy the game."

Done.

You're not gettin the big picture, man... :/

So, what Bon Jovi's saying is that maybe, just maybe... that bitch ain't crazy?

Maybe, they're gonna be the ones that save - oh wrong song/artist. Nevermind.

Activision should just donate a bunch of money to rehab programs and high-school reading programs so this doesn't happen again.

Seriously, how is it Activisions fault/problem that the bitch can't read anything below the 0's?

Wow seriously? Bon Jovi is like in every single band game. I would have imagined he'd be more than glad to do it.

Good for him I guess.

who gives a 8 stone crap? (south park joke btw)

Dude, feces is measured in Courics.

I think a lot of Artist wouldn't want someone else voice coming from a cartoon them......I mean if Kanye gets on "Hip-hop hero" I DAMN sure know HE wouldn't anyone else talk for him...I mean he is "the voice of this generation of this decade"!!!

He took it from your PSN name, he just missed a number or two in that mess of a username

I like Bon Jovi. I do hate people who hate people that are popular though ;)

We don't take kindly to folks who don't take kindly 'round here!

Ugg.. fail comment system strikes again! This was a reply to TheTideRises

*sigh*

joystiq doesn't give a FUCK that we have issues with their bogus-ass commenting system. i've stated my annoyance on several occasions; as did many others. fallen on deaf-ears and blind-eyes, G. haha whatever though.

Somehow I don't think Joystiq are the ones responsible for the comment system. If you've ever perused your comment history, you'll notice it contains any comments from any of the associated Weblogs run by AOL. That's like me complaining to the guy at GameStop about their used game policies when it's the guy at corporate headquarters making the decisions. Nothing's perfect, but a lot of us figure out how to go on living anyway.

@rTwelve: I see what you did there, and I lol'd

Somewhere Kurt is wearing a T-Shirt that says, "Corporate Afterlife Still Sucks!"

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Bon Jovi turned down inclusion in Guitar Hero 5, supports Love

Reader Comments (66)

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