Courtney Love and Dave Grohl have been fighting for years over Nirvana royalties, and their relationship has been very messy and complicated.
Highlights
- Courtney Love has consistently been involved in disagreements and lawsuits over Nirvana's royalties.
- Love initially owned over 98% of Nirvana's publishing rights after Cobain's death.
- Love has expressed dissatisfaction with the contract that allows Dave Grohl to receive a larger portion of Nirvana's royalties.
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were definitely an unforgettable couple. They might not have always had the easiest relationship, but their love for music kept them together, and they made a huge impact on the '90s grunge scene.
In the decades since Cobain's tragic death in April 1994, Courtney Love has never stopped talking about Nirvana, and she hasn't been shy about her thoughts about Cobain's bandmate Dave Grohl. In fact, a rumor came out about Frances Bean and Grohl dating because of a tweet that Love put out into the world.
Every few years or so since the 1990s, Courtney Love has spoken out about who owns the rights to Nirvana's royalties. She has gotten into more than a few disagreements with Dave Grohl, and it's clear that she doesn't think that she should have given him her royalties. Here's what happened between the singers.
What Happened To Nirvana's Royalties When Kurt Cobain Died?
Courtney Love has struggled to get along with Frances Bean Cobain, and her relationship with Nirvana band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic doesn't seem to be any better. The majority of the friction comes from fights over royalties.
Of course, people are curious about Kurt Cobain's estate at the time of his death in 1994. According to CNBC.com, when Cobain passed away, over 98% of Nirvana's publishing rights belonged to Courtney Love since she and Cobain had been married.
In 2006, MTV reported that Larry Mestel of Primary Wave Publishing bought 25% of Love's share of these publishing rights. According to MTV, Mestel now owned more of the publishing rights than Nirvana band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic had. Mestel is believed to have purchased the rights for over $50 million.
Love didn't continue to have total control of her late husband's estate, however. In 2012, The Guardian reported that Love was given $2.75m from Frances Bean Cobain's trust fund. This loan was given on one condition: Love wouldn't have the rights to Cobain's image, unless she was able to repay the money.
After Kurt Cobain died, Courtney Love and Nirvana's bandmates were often involved in lawsuits. In 2001, Love sued Novoselic, Grohl and Universal Music Group over her desire to have the publishing rights.
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According to Billboard, Love said that she was owed $3.1 million from Universal Music Group because they didn't give her the Nirvana royalties that she deserved.
While Love has talked more about these lawsuits than Grohl has, Grohl did talk about discussions that he has with his Nirvana bandmates. In 2021, The Hard Times reported that they talk about royalties on a regular basis.
Grohl said, “We’ve actually never stopped. If there’s one thing that’s always bonded me, Krist [Novoselic] and Pat [Smear], it’s the dedication to arguing about who gets what percent of performing rights, publishing rights, even merchandising rights. I guess some people would leave it to personal reps at our age, but really, this is why we became musicians. Fighting about contractual monetary compensation is just part of who we are. I genuinely think we’re actually doing some of the best fighting we’ve ever done as a band.”
What Did Courtney Love Say About Giving Dave Grohl Nirvana's Royalties?
In 2021, Courtney Love talked about Nirvana royalties on Instagram. Although she got rid of the post later on, enough people saw it. It definitely sounds like Love is unhappy that she agreed to a contract that allows Kurt Cobain's Nirvana bandmates to have a bigger portion of Nirvana's royalties.
According to NME.com, she wrote, “Three months before I left LA, I signed a document that effectively gives Dave [Grohl] (and Krist [Novoselic]) my descendants money in perpetuity. I was so broken. So scarred, so exhausted by him, I just f*cking signed it. But it’s a lie. So I’m unsigning it. Because it’s nonsense. The chaos and fury over Kurt’s death being directed at me, deflected by Dave, while he enriched and continues to enrich himself, gorging on Kurt’s fortune and Kurt’s goodwill. 27! Years!!! I’ve had enough.”
The Daily Mail reported that Love then shared on Instagram Stories that she was sorry about what she wrote. She said, "I need to apologize for my recent post. It was insensitive and it was wrong. No matter how I feel, there are real people behind my words and I need to learn to be more responsible with my words. I am truly sorry for those I've hurt. I will do better."
While Love didn't share details of this contract, according to Ultimateguitar.com, Novoselic and Grohl have 12.5 percent of Nirvana royalties... but they only get this money from 11 of Nirvana's songs.
Do Courtney Love And Dave Grohl Get Along Today?
Although Courtney Love and Dave Grohl were fighting for years, it seems that they were able to find some common ground in 2014. They both attended that year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony and they were kind to each other.
Grohl explained in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, "I saw Courtney walking past [earlier in the night], and I just tapped her on the shoulder and we looked at each other in the eyes and that was it — we're just family. We've had a rocky road. We've had a bumpy past, but at the end of the day we're a big family and when we hugged each other it was a real hug."
While Grohl seemed to feel fine about his relationship with Love in 2014, the fact that she insulted him on Instagram in 2021 proves that she still seems to have some negative feelings toward him.
In March 2023, Guitar.com reported that Courtney Love spoke out against the fact that not many women are in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. She posted on Instagram and tweeted that she had texted Dave Grohl that he should “hold the seats of Tina Turner and Carole King, both who have been eligible for over 30! years each.”
According to NPR, of the grand total of musicians in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, fewer than 8% are females.
It's unclear whether Grohl replied to the text message, and if he did, no one is sure what he said. It's also unclear how often Grohl and Love are in touch these days.
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