Spencer Elden: 'Nirvana Baby' Is Now 19

Spencer Elden: 'Nirvana Baby' from Nevermind

You have seen Spencer Elden naked, and probably more than once. This is because Spencer Elden is the "Nirvana Baby": in 1991, he appeared on the cover of Nirvana's music-industry-changing album Nevermind. Says Elden with a smile, "everyone's seen my penis..."

Photos

Young Spencer Elden: Nirvana 'Nevermind' Album Cover

see larger image

uploaded by Jordan Yerman

Spencer Elden's parents, Renata and Rick Elden,  went to art school with underwater portraiture specialist Kirk Weddle. Weddle's first big job was the Nevermind album cover, and  was volunteered as the model. Spencer Elden was tossed into  a swimming pool, several shots were taken within a few seconds, the dollar bill on the fishhook was superimposed, and album-cover history was made.

Originally, Kurt Cobain wanted a photo of an underwater birth, but Geffen Records deemed the imagery too graphic.

Nevermind went on to unseat Michael Jackson's Dangerous at the top of the charts, and brought grunge into the mainstream.

These days, Spencer Elden is an artist in his own right, working at Shepard Fairey's Obey Giant studio.

Nirvana Baby, Spencer Elden from Barry O Donnell on Vimeo.