A man who was photographed as a baby on the cover of Nirvana's 1991 "Nevermind" album has filed a lawsuit against the surviving members of the influential band, alleging the image was child exploitation.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court in California, Spencer Elden alleged he has suffered lifelong damages from the image used on the album's cover, which depicted him swimming toward a dollar bill pierced with a fish hook.
Nevermind is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Elden, now 30, is asking for $150,000 in compensation from each of several defendants, including Universal Music Group, photographer Kirk Weddle, Nirvana drummer and rock legend Dave Grohl, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Courtney Love, the widow of Nirvana's lead singer Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994.
Universal Music Group, Weddle and a publicist for Love did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
According to the lawsuit, Elden's parents never received any compensation for the image shot by Weddle, who was a friend of Elden's father.
The lawsuit alleged Cobain initially agreed to have a sticker censor Elden's private parts on the album cover, but no stickers were used.
Elden recreated the image as an adult in 2016, and has Nevermind tattooed on his chest.
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