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| Faces of the week | Faces of the week |
| (4 days later) | |
| Our regular look at some of the faces which have made the news this week. Above are Kurt Cobain (main picture), with MICHAEL J FOX, NAOMI CAMPBELL, ROBERT BROWN and BORAT. | Our regular look at some of the faces which have made the news this week. Above are Kurt Cobain (main picture), with MICHAEL J FOX, NAOMI CAMPBELL, ROBERT BROWN and BORAT. |
| Kurt Cobain | Kurt Cobain |
| According to Jimi Hendrix, "Once you're dead, you're made for life" and Elvis has been proving him right ever since, repeatedly topping a list of dead celebrity earners. | According to Jimi Hendrix, "Once you're dead, you're made for life" and Elvis has been proving him right ever since, repeatedly topping a list of dead celebrity earners. |
| But some fans of the troubled Nirvana front-man, Kurt Cobain, have been outraged to learn that, thanks to Cobain's abrasive widow, Courtney Love, he is now top of the posthumous pile. | But some fans of the troubled Nirvana front-man, Kurt Cobain, have been outraged to learn that, thanks to Cobain's abrasive widow, Courtney Love, he is now top of the posthumous pile. |
| In the last year, Cobain reportedly earned £26m pounds for the beneficiaries of his estate. | In the last year, Cobain reportedly earned £26m pounds for the beneficiaries of his estate. |
| Cobain action figures come complete with left-handed guitar | Cobain action figures come complete with left-handed guitar |
| The list of dead celebrity millionaires is drawn up by the American business bible, Forbes magazine. It says that a nail in the casket is hardly the end for some stars: instead their work, as well as their iconic image, continues to appeal to fans and to those born long after they died. | The list of dead celebrity millionaires is drawn up by the American business bible, Forbes magazine. It says that a nail in the casket is hardly the end for some stars: instead their work, as well as their iconic image, continues to appeal to fans and to those born long after they died. |
| But those who admired Cobain, and mourned his death 12 years ago aged 27, see it slightly differently, insisting his memory is being cynically exploited. | But those who admired Cobain, and mourned his death 12 years ago aged 27, see it slightly differently, insisting his memory is being cynically exploited. |
| His appearance at the top of the Forbes list is largely due to a decision by Courtney Love to sell 25% of the Nirvana back catalogue to Larry Mestel, a former record industry executive. He now has the right to sell the tracks for use in movies, television shows and, horror of all horrors, commercials. | His appearance at the top of the Forbes list is largely due to a decision by Courtney Love to sell 25% of the Nirvana back catalogue to Larry Mestel, a former record industry executive. He now has the right to sell the tracks for use in movies, television shows and, horror of all horrors, commercials. |
| So could the angst-ridden Cobain, who hated the idea of fame and corporate America, soon be endorsing hamburgers, cars and washing powder? | So could the angst-ridden Cobain, who hated the idea of fame and corporate America, soon be endorsing hamburgers, cars and washing powder? |
| Larry Mestel insists not. He told Forbes magazine that it was the band's attitude, its hatred of commercialism, that they wanted to protect and that they were looking at cutting edge technologies, eco-friendly products; things that Cobain would have approved of. | Larry Mestel insists not. He told Forbes magazine that it was the band's attitude, its hatred of commercialism, that they wanted to protect and that they were looking at cutting edge technologies, eco-friendly products; things that Cobain would have approved of. |
| 'Evidence of exploitation' | 'Evidence of exploitation' |
| That message has been echoed by Courtney Love's manager, Pete Asher, who insists they can make money while also doing the right thing for the catalogue. | That message has been echoed by Courtney Love's manager, Pete Asher, who insists they can make money while also doing the right thing for the catalogue. |
| Already deals are being struck. The TV police drama CSI Miami has signed up to use Nirvana recordings in an episode due out in November. | Already deals are being struck. The TV police drama CSI Miami has signed up to use Nirvana recordings in an episode due out in November. |
| The CSI music supervisor, PJ Bloom, is a long-time Nirvana fan and is adamant that they've got the backing of everyone concerned with Cobain's memory, including his former band-mates. It's thought four songs will be featured in the show and Bloom insists that they'll be used in a way that maintains the singer's legacy. | The CSI music supervisor, PJ Bloom, is a long-time Nirvana fan and is adamant that they've got the backing of everyone concerned with Cobain's memory, including his former band-mates. It's thought four songs will be featured in the show and Bloom insists that they'll be used in a way that maintains the singer's legacy. |
| Fan's anger is fuelled by a dislike of Courtney Love | Fan's anger is fuelled by a dislike of Courtney Love |
| But those who complain of exploitation believe there is evidence to the contrary. There've been any number of repackaged releases of Cobain's work since his death and four years ago the grunge rocker's diaries were published in a deal worth more than £2m. | But those who complain of exploitation believe there is evidence to the contrary. There've been any number of repackaged releases of Cobain's work since his death and four years ago the grunge rocker's diaries were published in a deal worth more than £2m. |
| T-shirts and other merchandise have also long been on sale and now an American company has even made Cobain action figures, complete with blue left-handed guitar. | T-shirts and other merchandise have also long been on sale and now an American company has even made Cobain action figures, complete with blue left-handed guitar. |
| The anger of old-time Nirvana fans is partly fuelled by their dislike of Courtney Love, the one-time actress and lead singer with the now defunct rock group Hole. They've suggested she married the Nirvana front-man to further her own career. | The anger of old-time Nirvana fans is partly fuelled by their dislike of Courtney Love, the one-time actress and lead singer with the now defunct rock group Hole. They've suggested she married the Nirvana front-man to further her own career. |
| But the allure of Cobain for the marketing men is clear to see. | But the allure of Cobain for the marketing men is clear to see. |
| He's said to have had a relatively happy early childhood. Then, at the age of seven, he was prescribed Ritalin for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was also devastated by his parents' divorce, later saying that he resented them for failing to provide him with the security he craved. | He's said to have had a relatively happy early childhood. Then, at the age of seven, he was prescribed Ritalin for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was also devastated by his parents' divorce, later saying that he resented them for failing to provide him with the security he craved. |
| The singer's relationship with his mother remained troubled and when he dropped out of high school at 16, she threw him out of the house. When he shot himself, she famously dismissed his death by saying he'd gone to join "the stupid club". | The singer's relationship with his mother remained troubled and when he dropped out of high school at 16, she threw him out of the house. When he shot himself, she famously dismissed his death by saying he'd gone to join "the stupid club". |
| Depression and addiction | Depression and addiction |
| Cobain struggled with depression throughout his life and began experimenting with drugs at high school; his addiction to heroin became legendary. On one occasion in 1992 he passed out during a photo shoot. | Cobain struggled with depression throughout his life and began experimenting with drugs at high school; his addiction to heroin became legendary. On one occasion in 1992 he passed out during a photo shoot. |
| He tried rehab several times and just days before his death he had reluctantly agreed to check into a clinic in California. He soon scaled the 6ft fence and returned to Seattle; eight days later he apparently took his life with a shotgun in a room above his garage. | He tried rehab several times and just days before his death he had reluctantly agreed to check into a clinic in California. He soon scaled the 6ft fence and returned to Seattle; eight days later he apparently took his life with a shotgun in a room above his garage. |
| But even his death was controversial. It's officially classified as suicide, complete with a note quoting Neil Young's lyrics "it's better to burn out than fade away". But many believe he was murdered, citing various experts who say there was too much heroin in his system to allow him to pull the trigger of a shotgun. | But even his death was controversial. It's officially classified as suicide, complete with a note quoting Neil Young's lyrics "it's better to burn out than fade away". But many believe he was murdered, citing various experts who say there was too much heroin in his system to allow him to pull the trigger of a shotgun. |
| It all adds up to a potent image - ripe for the picking by those apparently eager to do business. | It all adds up to a potent image - ripe for the picking by those apparently eager to do business. |
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| Michael J Fox | Michael J Fox |
| The American actor, Michael J Fox, has become the latest target of the talk radio commentator, Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh, a renowned conservative, has accused Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, of exaggerating the symptoms of his condition in a Democratic election broadcast aimed at winning support for stem cell research. Limbaugh was forced to apologise but did it only grudgingly and the spat has put Fox's 30-second ad at the top of the ratings on YouTube. | The American actor, Michael J Fox, has become the latest target of the talk radio commentator, Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh, a renowned conservative, has accused Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, of exaggerating the symptoms of his condition in a Democratic election broadcast aimed at winning support for stem cell research. Limbaugh was forced to apologise but did it only grudgingly and the spat has put Fox's 30-second ad at the top of the ratings on YouTube. |
| Full story | Full story |
| Naomi Campbell | Naomi Campbell |
| Naomi Campbell is in hot water. The supermodel has been quizzed by police in London for several hours after a woman reported that she'd attacked her at an address in Westminster. After being arrested and asked to attend a police station, Ms Campbell was bailed until December. Ms Campbell's spokesman said he thought there had been a "misunderstanding". "We are sure it will all be sorted out when the police investigate," he said. | Naomi Campbell is in hot water. The supermodel has been quizzed by police in London for several hours after a woman reported that she'd attacked her at an address in Westminster. After being arrested and asked to attend a police station, Ms Campbell was bailed until December. Ms Campbell's spokesman said he thought there had been a "misunderstanding". "We are sure it will all be sorted out when the police investigate," he said. |
| Full story | Full story |
| Robert Brown | Robert Brown |
| He's a 51-year-old accountant from Jersey, but claims he's 12th in line to the throne. Robert Brown says he's the illegitimate son of Princess Margaret - and has launched legal proceedings to gain access to her will and that of the Queen Mother. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the case but photographs of the Princess just two months before Mr Brown's birth date show her as her usual slim self. | He's a 51-year-old accountant from Jersey, but claims he's 12th in line to the throne. Robert Brown says he's the illegitimate son of Princess Margaret - and has launched legal proceedings to gain access to her will and that of the Queen Mother. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the case but photographs of the Princess just two months before Mr Brown's birth date show her as her usual slim self. |
| Full story | Full story |
| Borat | Borat |
| Spurning the traditional limo of the Hollywood opening night, Borat arrived in London for the opening of his film on a mule-drawn cart. Kazakhstan's fictitious TV reporter, aka Sacha Baron Cohen, brought with him 30 members of his extended family and several barrels of fermented horse urine. His film, which portrays the people of Kazakhstan in a less than flattering light, has received glowing reviews here; even the Kazakh ambassador says he laughed, although he also felt a little insulted. | Spurning the traditional limo of the Hollywood opening night, Borat arrived in London for the opening of his film on a mule-drawn cart. Kazakhstan's fictitious TV reporter, aka Sacha Baron Cohen, brought with him 30 members of his extended family and several barrels of fermented horse urine. His film, which portrays the people of Kazakhstan in a less than flattering light, has received glowing reviews here; even the Kazakh ambassador says he laughed, although he also felt a little insulted. |
| Full story | Full story |
| Written by BBC News Profiles Unit's Helen Morgan-Wynne | Written by BBC News Profiles Unit's Helen Morgan-Wynne |