Celebrity Justice
McCain: Jackson Browne Used Me!

Posted Nov 19th 2008 12:40PM by TMZ Staff

John McCain claims kook-rocker Jackson Browne pitched a fit over the candidate's use of the song "Running on Empty" for one reason -- to make sure Browne's new album won't be running on empty.

Jackson sued John back in August over the Prez-seeker's use of his song in an Ohio campaign ad about gas prices. Now, McCain's lawyers filed a response, saying Jackson complained so he could get press to promote his new album, which came out a month later.

J-Mac also makes the argument he could use the tune whenever and where he wants because he was running for Prez, not trying to make a buck off it. If the court buys this "political speech as public interest" claim, it pretty much means curtains for a bunch of other musicians who were PO'd about their songs being used by the GOP.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Prez Election 2008, Politix


Tags: Jackson Browne, JacksonBrowne, John McCain sued, JohnMccainSued, Running on Empty, RunningOnEmpty

Comments [68]
SphereBookmark and Share
4ie6

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 5) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Glad he didn't win the Presidency but here's hoping he wins this one. I hate whiny washed up actors/musicians/dancers who think they are still relevant.

Posted at 1:58PM on Nov 19th 2008 by Melissa

2. Jackson Browne is so past due. McCain is right all that washed up jerk wants is the Pub. He wasn't that good in the 70's I am sure that by now he really sucks.

Posted at 2:01PM on Nov 19th 2008 by dkhrts

3. What a freaking loser/ Who cares about a has been musician trying to sell a lame album. Jackson you are so done it isn't funny

Posted at 2:04PM on Nov 19th 2008 by BTW

4. Kook-rocker? He's one of the finest song writers alive!

Posted at 2:05PM on Nov 19th 2008 by mccainsthekook

5. I believe the term that fits is "using the song for personal gain". Which of course MacJ was doing. Since the song itself is not within public domain, the rights to the song and how it may be used belong to the artist. MacJ should just wrap his shredded linen shrouds about his stooped shoulders, shuffle back to his sarcaphogus (sic?), pull the lid closed and shut his whiney ass up!

Posted at 2:11PM on Nov 19th 2008 by Assamite

6. Whether or not you like the dude's music is irrelevant - he wrote it, so he owns it and should have a say in how it's used in a public platform. In some artists opinion, using their songs in certain political campaigns where they do not agree with the candidate's views is as defiling as slashing a VanGogh.

Posted at 2:23PM on Nov 19th 2008 by MookieBFan

7. Well he is a liberal kook if not a kook rocker and any lawyer worth their salt could argue that the song is in the publc domain, so piss off.

Posted at 2:27PM on Nov 19th 2008 by h.b.

8. Jackson Brown is NOT a kook. He's a junkie.

Posted at 2:31PM on Nov 19th 2008 by John Belushi

9. Response to #7: Any lawyer worth his salt could argue that the song is in the public domain? How so? Because we've all heard it? So same goes for all Beatles songs? Madonna songs? Dumb ass. Jackson Browne, washed up or not, owns the song and is entitled to royalties, and any lawyer worth his salt could prove it and win compensation.

Posted at 2:41PM on Nov 19th 2008 by dogg

10. Jackson Brownes initials backwards are B J. and that is what he is

Posted at 2:44PM on Nov 19th 2008 by Obama

11. If I write a song, I should have the right to decide where it is played in public in support of who, especially in certain situations. If someone is playing your song, as the new theme song for the Nambla(North American Man/Boy Love Association), The make Child Porn legal group, then you should be able to say no!

If this isn't true than advertizing would never have to pay for a song again.

Posted at 2:46PM on Nov 19th 2008 by completely amazed

12. Jackson Browne's music really got me through some tough times in the 1980s--particularly "Your Bright Baby Blues" a song I played endlessly in my darkest times. I strongly feel the artist is do the respect and Mr. Browne SHOULD try and take legal action BECAUSE THE SONG WAS USED FOR JOHN MC CAIN's PERSONAL GAIN. I admire Jackson Browne's songwriting, sincerely.

Posted at 2:47PM on Nov 19th 2008 by ROCKY MOUNTAINS

13. 12. Jackson Browne's music really got me through some tough times in the 1980s--particularly "Your Bright Baby Blues"

Posted at 2:47PM on Nov 19th 2008 by ROCKY MOUNTAINS



Anyone who writes a song with a gross title like that deserves to be beaten not rewarded.

Posted at 3:12PM on Nov 19th 2008 by R.Zimmerman

14. This lawsuit is frivolous and a waste of taxpayer money. Give him his $.04 per use ASCAP royalty, plus $1.20 for pain and suffering and send him home to beat his wife. Then rap McCain on the knuckles with a ruler and make him stand in the corner singing Beat It until he passes out. Does anybody really think Browne personally gives permission to every radio station or outlet (excluding commercial advertising) that plays his music? Look up Fair Use, Copyright Law and ASCAP policies and use tracking. And I seriously, seriously doubt any court would find this "as defiling as slashing a VanGogh.". Trivial.

Posted at 3:21PM on Nov 19th 2008 by ark

15. I'm really disappointed in Jackson Browne, 'cause I really like him and am still a fan. But I'm not with him on this one. McCain is correct, and he also should have been elected Prez instead of the speech giver. McCain has experience, but anyway, Browne should lose this one!

Posted at 3:26PM on Nov 19th 2008 by Squirrellygirl

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments