Never mind Nirvana

If there were no issues with the cover when the album was released, then why have problems now Rohan Solomon, musician.

Facebook has come under severe criticism from fans of rock band Nirvana in Delhi and around the world. Earlier this week, the social networking yanked the iconic cover of Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind — which shows a naked baby floating in a swimming pool.

On Wednesday, the album cover was posted on the band’s fan page to mark the 20th anniversary of it’s release. Within hours, it was pulled off by the site, which put up a notice saying, “Facebook does not allow photos that attack an individual or group, or that contain nudity, drug use, violence or other violations of the terms of use.” Under attack from fans, the site relented and the cover was back up in a day.

However, fans are still disappointed by the move. “It is an iconic and unusual cover. It’s been here for 20 years, so why now?” says Subir Malik, a member of Parikrama.

“Every Nirvana fan will be disappointed with this news. If there were no issues when the album was released, then why have problems now,” says Rohan Solomon, lead vocalist of Cyanide. “I think it’s just a waste of time. By removing the cover from the fan page, they don’t prove anything. The album still sells in the market, so what’s the point?” says Srijan, 23, drummer with Half Step Down.

However, there is some support for the move. “Putting up a photo of a naked baby hurts the sentiments and morality of society,” says Jolly Verghess, a child rights activist with the Hope Foundation.