:Bert McCracken

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Bert McCracken

| image = The Used-3058 (18837806635).jpg

| caption = McCracken in 2014

| landscape = yes

| birth_name = Robert Edward McCracken

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|2|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Provo, Utah, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Singer
songwriter

}}

| current_member_of = The Used

| website =

}}

Robert Edward McCracken (born February 25, 1982) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band the Used.

Early life

McCracken was born in Provo, Utah, and grew up in Orem, Utah. He was raised in a Mormon family with three sisters (Katie, Melanie, Rachel) and one younger brother (Joseph Taylor). McCracken has stated that he read quite voraciously growing up, due to the influence of his mother, who was a schoolteacher.{{cite web|last1=Hartmann |first1=Graham |title=The Used's Bert McCracken Philosophizes On The Past, Present And Future |url=https://loudwire.com/the-used-bert-mccracken-past-present-future/|website=Loudwire |date=12 March 2014 |access-date=6 December 2024}} At age 12, he started playing the trumpet in a local band called "I'm With Stupid". He attended Timpanogos High School{{cite web |last1=Beaudoin |first1=Jennifer |title=Who Are The Used? |url=https://q1057.com/who-are-the-used/ |website=Q105.7 |access-date=6 December 2024 |date=May 13, 2012 }} for a brief time, before dropping out at 16.{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |title=Bert McCracken Tells Personal Stories Behind Debut's Standout Songs |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/used-bert-mccracken-tells-personal-stories-behind-debuts-standout-songs/ |website=Revolver |access-date=6 December 2024 |date=23 December 2020}}

Eldest son of the household, Bert enjoyed a happy home life as a child, but as he grew into a teenager his and his parents' views conflicted. He rebelled against his parents and against their Mormon religion, eventually leaving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1456134/now-that-the-used-are-no-longer-using-life-is-unreal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220034334/http://www.mtv.com/news/1456134/now-that-the-used-are-no-longer-using-life-is-unreal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2014|title=Now That The Used Are No Longer Using, Life Is 'Unreal'|newspaper=MTV News|access-date=October 16, 2016}}{{Cite news|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/the-useds-bert-mccracken-im-brave-courageous-courteous-careful-loyal-thrifty-and-kind/837297|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313152132/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/the-useds-bert-mccracken-im-brave-courageous-courteous-careful-loyal-thrifty-and-kind/837297|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2016|title=The Used's Bert McCracken: "I'm brave, courageous, courteous, careful, loyal, thrifty and kind"|date=April 24, 2014|newspaper=FasterLouder|language=en-US|access-date=October 16, 2016}} He dropped out of high school; soon after, he left his home at the age of 16. For some time he was homeless until he found enough money for an apartment, moving in with then-girlfriend Kate.{{Cite web |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1051 |title=I'm Out Of My Head! |website=Blender |date=2024-02-07 |access-date=December 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019013649/http://www.blender.com:80/guide/articles.aspx?id=1051 |archive-date=October 19, 2004 |url-status=dead }}

Career

File:Bert McCracken - Street Scene 03.jpg

Prior to joining The Used, McCracken was the vocalist in a straight edge band called Cobra Kai, which he was kicked out of after beginning to smoke marijuana.{{cite book |last1=Payne |first1=Chris |title=Where Are Your Boys Tonight? The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008 |date=2023 |publisher=Dey Street Books |isbn=9780063251281 |page=146 |quote=Jeph Howard: Bert had a metal band called Cobra Kai. We knew he could scream nonstop the whole show, but he also had a good singing voice.
Bert McCracken: I started smoking pot and the straight-edge band I was in kicked me out. After that, I drifted away from music for a while and drugs became my everyday. Slowly from alcohol, then weed and cocaine to crystal methamphetamines. I got caught up in that world, living with some tweakers in a garage, and on and on and on.}}

In January 2001, when the band called Dumb Luck (which later became The Used, then consisting of Quinn Allman, Jeph Howard, and Branden Steineckert) were looking for a singer, Allman remembered McCracken and he was invited to try out. After being given music that the band had written without words, McCracken wrote the lyrics to what would become "Maybe Memories" and returned the next day with a newly recorded version of the song. The band welcomed him immediately, and renamed themselves "Used". They were eventually discovered by John Feldmann and signed to Reprise Records; they became "The Used" when it was discovered that a Boston band had already trademarked the name "Used". On June 25, 2002, they released their self-titled debut album. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 21, 2003. Seventeen years after its debut, it was certified Platinum on September 28, 2019.{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum - The Used|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=the+used&ti=the+used&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |website=RIAA |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=6 December 2024}}

On September 28, 2004, The Used released their second album, In Love and Death, under Reprise Records. Within the first week of its release, it sold 93,240 copies and charted at number six on the Billboard 200.{{cite web |last1=Montgomery |first1=James |title=Hilary Duff Debuts At #2, Ciara Lands At #3 On Albums Chart |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1492000/hilary-duff-debuts-at-2-ciara-lands-at-3-on-albums-chart/ |website=MTV News |publisher=Viacom |access-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704180335/http://www.mtv.com/news/1492000/hilary-duff-debuts-at-2-ciara-lands-at-3-on-albums-chart/ |archive-date=4 July 2017 |date=6 October 2004 |url-status=dead}} By March 2005, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. On February 28, 2019, it was certified Platinum; fifteen years after its debut.{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum - In Love and Death|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=The+Used&ti=In+Love+and+Death&format=Album&type=&col=certification_date&ord=asc#search_section |website=RIAA |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=6 December 2024}}

In 2017, Allman sued McCracken for touring, album, and merchandise proceeds that occurred before his dismissal from the band, as well as damages for late and irregular royalty payments due to him.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Former The Used lead guitarist sues ex-bandmates two years after being fired from Utah-based group |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/11/15/former-the-used-lead-guitarist-sues-ex-bandmates-two-years-after-being-fired-from-utah-based-group/#:~:text=Quinn%20Allman,%20a%20founding%20member,from%20the%20band%20in%202015. |access-date=2024-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207215508/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/11/15/former-the-used-lead-guitarist-sues-ex-bandmates-two-years-after-being-fired-from-utah-based-group/#:~:text=Quinn%20Allman,%20a%20founding%20member,from%20the%20band%20in%202015. |archive-date=February 7, 2024 }} The case was settled out of court in 2020.

In early 2024, McCracken announced that he would be releasing a solo album under the name “robbietheused”.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-31 |title=The Used's Bert McCracken launches pop solo project, robbietheused |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-useds-bert-mccracken-launches-pop-solo-project-robbietheused/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}} His debut single, "Just A Little Bit", was released on May 31, 2024.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQRpR0vKF9E |title=robbietheused- Just a Little Bit (Audio) |date=2024-05-30 |last=robbietheused |access-date=2024-05-31 |via=YouTube}}

Personal life

McCracken appeared on the MTV show The Osbournes while he was dating Kelly Osbourne,{{cite news |title=Meet Kelly Osbourne's ex-drug addict boyfriend |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/meet-kelly-osbournes-ex-drug-addict-boyfriend-20030219-gdgan3.html |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=19 February 2003 |language=en}} to her mother's dismay and disapproval.

In 2004, McCracken's then-pregnant ex-girlfriend Kate died of a drug overdose, as the recording of The Used's second album In Love and Death was coming to a close.{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2016/09/01/news/useds-bert-mccracken-discusses-losing-loved-one-drugs-overcoming-substance-abuse/|title=The Used's Bert McCracken Discusses Losing A Loved One To Drugs, Overcoming Substance Abuse – Theprp.com|date=September 1, 2016}}

In July 2008, McCracken married his Australian fiancée, Alison, at a private ceremony in Los Angeles. In July 2013, he announced that he and his wife had relocated from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia,{{Cite web |url=http://cooltry.com.au/interview-bert-mccracken-the-used/ |title=Interview – Bert McCracken (The Used) – Cool Try |access-date=February 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064757/http://cooltry.com.au/interview-bert-mccracken-the-used/ |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=dead }} where their first daughter, Cleopatra Rose, was born in January, 2014. Their second child, Minerva Bloom, was born on March 23, 2018.Imaginary Enemy Album Booklet

McCracken has struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism in the past, the former referenced in the song "Bulimic" on The Used's self-titled album.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/230uxb/were_bert_jeph_quinn_dan_aka_the_used_ask_us/|title=r/Music – We're Bert, Jeph, Quinn + Dan, AKA – The Used. Ask us anything!|website=reddit|date=April 14, 2014 }} However, he has since overcome his addictions, being sober since 2012.

Bert McCracken has voiced his support for Palestine and left-wing politics{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwc5Pd1WdAg&t=9s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Mwc5Pd1WdAg| archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live|title=The Used on Quinn Allman's Hiatus + Band's Future Goals|last=Loudwire|date=June 19, 2015|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} alongside being critical of aspects of contemporary American culture and society, such as the influence of larger corporations on the music industry, which partly prompted his move to Australia in 2013. His political views were also influential in the lyrical content of The Used's 2014 album Imaginary Enemy.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bert-mccracken-of-the-used-mad-as-hell/|title=Bert McCracken of The Used is Mad as Hell and He's Not Gonna Take It Anymore|date=April 21, 2014}}

About a year prior to the recording of The Used's 2017 album The Canyon, McCracken's friend Tregen died via suicide which heavily influenced the album's lyrical content.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_used_bert_mccracken_interview_the_canyon|title=The Used's Bert McCracken has powerful words about life and death – Alternative Press|website=Alternative Press |date=October 26, 2017}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8013821/the-used-new-album-the-canyon-bert-mccracken-interview|title=The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'|magazine=Billboard }}

Discography

=[[The Used]]=

see The Used discography

=Solo album=

robbietheused (October 25, 2024)

= Singles =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of singles, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"\| Single ! scope="col"\| Year ! scope="col"\| Album
scope="row"\| "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" {{small\|(Street Drum Corps featuring Bert McCracken)}}{{cite web\|title=Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Single\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/happy-xmas-war-is-over-single/89225134\|work=iTunes Store\|date=November 15, 2005 \|publisher=Apple Inc.\|access-date=March 25, 2020}} \| 2005 \| Taste of Christmas
scope="row"\| "Vampire's Diet" {{small\|(with 3OH!3)}}{{cite web\|title=Vampire's Diet – Single\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/vampires-diet-single/1572326377\|work=Apple Music\|publisher=Apple Inc.\|access-date=July 31, 2021}} \| 2021 \| NEED
"Just A Little Bit" \|2024 \|robbietheused

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of singles, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Single

! scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Album

scope="row"| "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"
{{small|(Street Drum Corps featuring Bert McCracken)}}{{cite web|title=Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Single|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/happy-xmas-war-is-over-single/89225134|work=iTunes Store|date=November 15, 2005 |publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=March 25, 2020}}

| 2005

| Taste of Christmas

scope="row"| "Vampire's Diet"
{{small|(with 3OH!3)}}{{cite web|title=Vampire's Diet – Single|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/vampires-diet-single/1572326377|work=Apple Music|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=July 31, 2021}}

| 2021

| NEED

"Just A Little Bit"

|2024

|robbietheused

= Other appearances =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" style="width:16em"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Year ! scope="col"\| Artist ! scope="col"\| Album ! scope="col"\| Note(s)
scope="row"\| "Spokesman" \| rowspan="3"\| 2002 \| rowspan="3"\| Goldfinger \| rowspan="3"\| Open Your Eyes \| rowspan="6"\| Additional vocals
scope="row"\| "Open Your Eyes"
scope="row"\| "Woodchuck"
scope="row"\| "Anthem of Our Dying Day"{{Cite web\|url=https://anchor.fm/pageavenuecrew/episodes/Making-Page-Avenue-Part-1-eipfag\|title = Making Page Avenue: Part 1 by Page Avenue Crew}} \| 2003 \| Story of the Year \| Page Avenue
scope="row"\| "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison" \| 2004 \| My Chemical Romance \| Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
scope="row"\| "Ocean Size" \| 2005 \| Goldfinger \| Disconnection Notice
scope="row"\| "At Least I'm Good at Something" \| 2006 \| The Distance \| The Rise and Fall and Everything in Between \| Guest
scope="row"\| "Handjobs for Jesus" \| 2008 \| Goldfinger \| Hello Destiny... \| Guest vocals
scope="row"\| "Days Are Numbered" \| 2013 \| Black Veil Brides \| Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones \| Additional vocals
scope="row"\| "Body Bag" \| rowspan="2"\| 2020 \| Machine Gun Kelly \| Tickets to My Downfall \| Featured, Writer
scope="row"\| "Over My Head" \| Girlfriends \| Girlfriends \| Featured
scope="row"\| "Think About Me" \| 2021 \| Jxdn \| Tell Me About Tomorrow \| Writer
scope="row"\| "Give Your Heart a Break" (Rock Version) \| 2023 \| Demi Lovato \| Revamped \| Featured
scope="row"\| "Dearly Departed" \| rowspan="3"\| 2024 \| Escape the Fate \| Out of the Shadows 2.0 \| Featured, Writer
scope="row"\|"You're So Ugly When You Cry"{{Cite web\|url=https://sropr.com/press-releases/the-funeral-portrait-enlist-the-used-vocalist-bert-mccracken-on-new-track-youre-so-ugly-when-you-cry-out-today-april-19/\|title = THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT Enlist THE USED Vocalist BERT MCCRACKEN On New Track "You're So Ugly When You Cry" Out Today, April 19\| date=April 19, 2024 }} \| The Funeral Portrait \| rowspan="2"\| Single \| Featured
scope="row"\|"Just A Little Bit" \|robbietheused \|Debut single from his solo project

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col" style="width:16em"| Title

! scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Artist

! scope="col"| Album

! scope="col"| Note(s)

scope="row"| "Spokesman"

| rowspan="3"| 2002

| rowspan="3"| Goldfinger

| rowspan="3"| Open Your Eyes

| rowspan="6"| Additional vocals

scope="row"| "Open Your Eyes"

scope="row"| "Woodchuck"

scope="row"| "Anthem of Our Dying Day"{{Cite web|url=https://anchor.fm/pageavenuecrew/episodes/Making-Page-Avenue-Part-1-eipfag|title = Making Page Avenue: Part 1 by Page Avenue Crew}}

| 2003

| Story of the Year

| Page Avenue

scope="row"| "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison"

| 2004

| My Chemical Romance

| Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

scope="row"| "Ocean Size"

| 2005

| Goldfinger

| Disconnection Notice

scope="row"| "At Least I'm Good at Something"

| 2006

| The Distance

| The Rise and Fall and Everything in Between

| Guest

scope="row"| "Handjobs for Jesus"

| 2008

| Goldfinger

| Hello Destiny...

| Guest vocals

scope="row"| "Days Are Numbered"

| 2013

| Black Veil Brides

| Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones

| Additional vocals

scope="row"| "Body Bag"

| rowspan="2"| 2020

| Machine Gun Kelly

| Tickets to My Downfall

| Featured, Writer

scope="row"| "Over My Head"

| Girlfriends

| Girlfriends

| Featured

scope="row"| "Think About Me"

| 2021

| Jxdn

| Tell Me About Tomorrow

| Writer

scope="row"| "Give Your Heart a Break" (Rock Version)

| 2023

| Demi Lovato

| Revamped

| Featured

scope="row"| "Dearly Departed"

| rowspan="3"| 2024

| Escape the Fate

| Out of the Shadows 2.0

| Featured, Writer

scope="row"|"You're So Ugly When You Cry"{{Cite web|url=https://sropr.com/press-releases/the-funeral-portrait-enlist-the-used-vocalist-bert-mccracken-on-new-track-youre-so-ugly-when-you-cry-out-today-april-19/|title = THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT Enlist THE USED Vocalist BERT MCCRACKEN On New Track "You're So Ugly When You Cry" Out Today, April 19| date=April 19, 2024 }}

| The Funeral Portrait

| rowspan="2"| Single

| Featured

scope="row"|"Just A Little Bit"

|robbietheused

|Debut single from his solo project

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year !scope="col"\| Title !scope="col"\|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row"\|2004 \|Punk Rock Holocaust \|Himself \|
scope="row"\|2006 \|My Chemical Romance: Life On The Murder Scene \|Himself \|Documentary film
scope="row"\|2007 \|Punk's Not Dead \|Himself \|Documentary film
scope="row"\|2013 \|Black Veil Brides in the Studio: The Making of Wretched & Divine \|Himself \|Documentary film

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

!scope="col"| Title

!scope="col"|Role

!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row"|2004

|Punk Rock Holocaust

|Himself

scope="row"|2006

|My Chemical Romance: Life On The Murder Scene

|Himself

|Documentary film

scope="row"|2007

|Punk's Not Dead

|Himself

|Documentary film

scope="row"|2013

|Black Veil Brides in the Studio: The Making of Wretched & Divine

|Himself

|Documentary film

= Television =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year !scope="col"\| Title !scope="col"\|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row"\|2002–03 \|The Osbournes \|Himself \|2 episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

!scope="col"| Title

!scope="col"|Role

!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row"|2002–03

|The Osbournes

|Himself

|2 episodes