Rock star Jon Bon Jovi says that he completely understands why former members of Nirvana are protesting the use of an image of Kurt Cobain in Guitar Hero 5, a popular video game.

Last week Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic stated that they were disappointed that an avatar of Cobain was being used in the game for playing songs from other acts.

Jon Bon Jovi said on BBC that he didn’t know if he would have wanted that either. He said that hearing another person’s voice coming from a cartoon version of me would sound a little forced.

Last weekend Guitar Hero 5 started number one on the UK game charts, beating The Beatles: Rock Band, their highly promoted rival.

The late front man for Nirvana appears in the game as an unlockable character which allows players to see Cobain’s image performing a variety of other musical tracks include “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi.

In a statement released jointly by Novoselic and Grohl last week they stated that hadn’t known that the image of Cobain would used that way.

They said they were very disappointed and dismayed the way that the image of Kurt was being used in Guitar Hero 5.

The duo also encouraged Activision, the game maker, to do the right ting by re-locking the character Kurt.

Activision stated the the singer’s estate had granted their permission for using Cobain’s image. They said that Courtney Love, Cobain’s widow, had provided them with a written agreement allowing the likeness of the singer to appear as a completely playable character in Guitar Hero 5.

On Twitter, Love stated that she hadn’t ever signed a contract on Guitar Hero 5 and threatened Activision with legal action. She wrote that it was a breach of contract by a bully and that it would be properly addressed and be retracted.

Jon Bon Jovi, who is currently promoting the 11th studio album of his band, The Circle, stated that he had been offered to appear in Guitar Hero as a playable character and had declined.

He said he had the paperwork and that they had wanted him to be in the game but he had passed. Bon Jovi added that no one had ever mentioned that he would be singing other artist’s songs. I am not sure I would have wanted that or reacted to it.