Love previously signed a 1997 agreement with Grohl and Novoselic that formed Nirvana L.L.C. and gave each equal control in Nirvana business matters. However, the complaint states that Love signed the agreement at a time when her "judgment was significantly impaired," and she seeks to void it.

Nirvana signed a contract with Geffen Records in 1991, a label that was later bought by Universal. Universal, in turn, was purchased by the French company Vivendi. Love’s argument is that the contract was specific to Geffen Records, and that it should be voided because subsequent mergers have changed the nature of the agreement. Love also claims Nirvana is owed approximately $3.1 million in unpaid royalties.

Further, the suit claims that the release of the song "Monstersound" by Universal Music Group dance act Balloon--which featured cover art of a German skinhead holding a shotgun and an allegedly unauthorized sample of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"--"severely damaged Nirvana’s credibility in the eyes of its audience; distorted the integrity of the classic recording" and is indicative of an indifference on the part of UMG to Nirvana’s interests.

A Universal Music Group spokesman declined to comment on the suit.

Warren Rheaume, attorney for Grohl and Novoselic, said he hadn’t yet seen the suit, but that the suit didn’t alter the goal of his clients. "The objective of Dave and Krist is to get the music in the hands of the fans, and that hasn’t changed."

Love's suit is similar to one she recently filed to free her band Hole [ tickets ] from its contract with Universal. On Tuesday, a Los Angeles judge handed Love a procedural win in that case by allowing most of her claims in her contract termination suit against Vivendi Universal to proceed to trial, the Los Angeles Times reported.