This is what the baby from Nirvana's iconic 'Nevermind' cover has been up to over the last 3 decades

He was the most recognisable baby of the 1990s, but what ever happened to the little lad who graced the cover of Nirvana's Nevermind album?

In 1991, the Seattle-based band were launched into the stratosphere with their single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' – a song which was unintentionally named after a women's deodorant brand.

The band followed up the single with their second album Nevermind, which controversially featured an image of a naked baby swimming towards a dollar bill attached to a fishing hook.

An image which would be considered provocative at best if released today, so you can imagine the reaction to the cover from suburban America over three decades ago.

The band's label even expressed concern about the image, due to the infant's genitals being visible in the image, only to relent after frontman Kurt Cobain said he would only cover it with a sticker which read: "If you're offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile."

But what does the infant on the cover make of all this now that he's grown up? Well, turns out he's had quite a rocky relationship with the band and artwork.

Who is the baby on the cover of Nirvana's Nevermind?

The baby floating towards the dangling dollar is Spencer Elden.

Born in February 1991, Elden's parents had received a phone call from local underwater photographer Kirk Weddle enquiring if he could photograph their son for a project.

The Elden's, who were friends of the photographer, agreed and were paid just $200 (£158) for the image.

Little did they know, the image would go on to be the cover of one of the most successful albums of all time, selling a whopping 30 million copies worldwide.

And that's before you consider the impact which Nevermind had - and continues to have - on popular music.

Why did Spencer Elden sue Nirvana?

At first, it would appear that Elden was perfectly fine with being known as the 'Nirvana baby'. He even recreated the photo in 2016 to celebrate the album's 25th anniversary, although this time with his clothes on.

"I said to the photographer, 'Let's do it naked'. But he thought that would be weird, so I wore my swim shorts," he told The New York Post of the decision.

"It’s cool but weird to be part of something so important that I don’t even remember."

This wasn't the only time he re-created the image either, with the artist jumping in the pool to pose for the camera numerous times over the years.

However, his relationship with the artwork would turn sour just a couple of years later, with the now 34-year-old suing the band's estate over the image in 2021.

Elden named the band's surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Cobain's widow Courtney Love alongside photographer Kirk Weddle in the lawsuit, claiming the image had been had been taken without Elden's consent and was child pornography. He sought £120,000 in damages.

So Spencer Elden the baby from Nirvana's Nevermind album cover is suing the band and Kurt Cobain's estate claiming the cover was child porn and yet he recreated the famous pic many times. (Sounds like someone needs money) story below 👇🏻 what are your thoughts? https://t.co/1a2CjFh3co pic.twitter.com/Wo7MAhQsoR

— Decades Of ROCK (@Rockdecades) August 25, 2021

What happened with the case?

A judge dismissed Elden's initial complaint, with an attorney stating that his claims of sexual exploitation where 'really offensive to the true victims' of child abuse.

Elden would refile amended claims days after the suit was dismissed.

A judge ruled against him for a second time, stating that he'd waited too long to file the lawsuit, citing the 10-year statute of limitations from a date a plaintiff reaches their 18th birthday.

He appealed the case again and revived his claim in December 2023, with his lawyers claiming the band's 30th anniversary re-release constituted a new 'injury' to Elden, which he could bring before the court.

A lawyer for the band later disputed the claim, with their attorney Bert Deixler telling Billboard: "We will defend this meritless case with vigour and expect to prevail."

Meanwhile, Grohl gave a scathing response to the lawsuit, telling Vulture at the time: "I don’t know that I can speak on it because I haven’t spent too much time thinking about it.

"I feel the same way most people do in that I have to disagree. That’s all I’ll say."

He then added: "Listen, he’s got a Nevermind tattoo. I don’t."