In September 1992, Constance Hansen and Russell Peacock, the husband and wife photography team behind Guzman, arrived at the Hollywood Hills home of Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love and Frances Bean to take pictures of the growing family. Only five images from the 1992 shoot appeared in Spin magazine.
Here’s what Guzman had to say about the photoshoot:
“Sept 23rd 1992, Los Angeles, CA: Our first memory was loading camera equipment into a ten-story outdoor elevator tower. In those days we used to bring all the camera; 35mm, 2 1/4, a Polaroid Land camera, and sometimes a 4X5 view camera. Emerging from the top of the elevator, known as the Hollywood Heights Hightower, it was just a short walk over to Kurt and Courtney’s modest house.
“Courtney greeted us at the front door holding a cup of coffee and a just delivered guava pie. She was super friendly and, while showing us around, shared that she just bought a brand-new Lexus. But Kurt, who couldn’t imagine himself driving around in such a fancy car, made her return it the next day. She said that Kurt was still upstairs but would be down soon. ‘No problem,’ we responded. ‘Why don’t we just take pictures of him in bed?’ Not sure if Kurt was informed, but she gave us the green light and we all headed upstairs. Kurt, still in his pajamas, was watching MTV’s morning news. We introduced ourselves while our assistant brought up the cameras and that’s where we began our photoshoot. Later, Courtney came up and placed 1 month old Frances Bean in Kurt’s arms. We photographed them together and then Courtney jumped in too.
“While changing her clothes, we asked Courtney if we could get a shot of her holding Frances Bean. Expecting her to say no, she hesitated for a moment; ‘I just had a baby and I probably shouldn’t be doing that,’ then followed with, ‘I guess that’s the point.’
“Later on, Kurt wrote ‘Family Values’ on Courtney’s stomach and then ‘Diet Grrrl,’ (a play on ‘Riot Grrrl’) on his. Despite of all the intense scrutiny that was swirling around them, we found them at a very happy and loving place. After photographing them in the living room, Kurt told Courtney he was hungry. Courtney offered to make him Rice a Roni but they had an appointment with an attorney that they couldn’t miss.”
At the time in 1992, “family values” was also a campaign theme for the Republican Party going into November’s election.
The photoshoot was an attempt to show them playing happy families despite the fact that at the time, Courtney and Kurt were fighting desperately for custody of their newborn daughter, Frances Bean. While the photoshoot took place, there was a court-mandated nanny there.
(Photos by © Guzman)
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