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{{short description|American singer}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2007}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
| Name = Bert McCracken
{{BLP sources|date=June 2007}}
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: | Img = Used03.jpg |thumb| -->
{{Infobox musical artist
| Img_capt =
| Img_size = | name = Bert McCracken
| Background = solo_singer | image = The Used-3058 (18837806635).jpg
| caption = McCracken in 2014
| Born = {{Birth date and age|1982|2|25|mf=y}}<br>] ], ]
| landscape = yes
| Instrument = ], ], ], ]
| Genres = Alternative Rock Punk rock | birth_name = Robert Edward McCracken
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|2|25|mf=y}}
| Occupation = ]<br/>]<br/>]
| Label = ] | birth_place = ], U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
| Associated_acts = ]
* ]
* ]
* {{nowrap|]}}
* {{nowrap|]}}
* ]
* ]
* ]}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
}}
| current_member_of = ]
| website =
}} }}
'''Robert Edward McCracken''' (b. ], ]), professionally known as '''Bert McCracken''', is the ] of the ] ] band ].


'''Robert Edward McCracken''' (born February 25, 1982) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band ].
===Biography===
Bert McCracken was born in ], ] (]) and raised in a ] family, living as a member of the ] community until age 15. He has three younger sisters (Katie, Melanie, Rachel) and one younger brother (Joseph Taylor). (See liner notes for '']'' and '']''.)
He attended ] in tenth grade with bandmate ] (with whom he attended the same choir class), before dropping out. Before joining The Used, he played the trumpet in a local band called I'm With Stupid, starting at age 12.


== Early life ==
The eldest of four (presumably McCracken left home before the birth of Joseph Taylor), Bert enjoyed a happy home life as a child, but as he grew into a teenager his and his parents' views conflicted. As a teenager he edited a straight-edge magazine until he was beat up by fellow straight-edgers, driving the already drifting Mormon in a different direction by encouraging him to experiment with drugs as a method of rebelling against his religious friends and his parents. <ref>Blender- "I'm Out Of My Head!" http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1051</ref>After becoming a drug addict, losing his virginity, and dropping out of high school, they kicked him out of the house at the age of 16 for rebelling against their Mormon upbringing. For some time he was homeless until he found enough money for an apartment, moving in with girlfriend Kate. <ref>"The Dirty Dozen" http://www.playboy.com/sex/d12/bertmccracken</ref>After the relationship fell apart he was again living on the streets and sinking more and more deeply into drug addiction, until he finally chose to return to his parents' home in late December of ]. <ref>Blender- "I'm Out Of My Head!" http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1051</ref>In January ], when the band called Dumb Luck (which later became The Used, then consisting of Quinn, Jeph and Branden) were looking for a singer, Quinn remembered Bert and he was invited to try out. After being given music that the band had written without words, Bert wrote the lyrics to what would become ] and returned the next day with a newly recorded version of the song. The band welcomed him immediately, and the band was renamed "Used." After their first gig they were discovered by John Feldmann and signed to Reprise Records; they became "The Used" when it was discovered that a ] band had already trademarked the name "Used," and soon after they released their self-titled debut on ], ].
McCracken was born in ], and grew up in ]. He was raised in a ] family with three sisters (Katie, Melanie, Rachel) and two younger brothers (Joseph Taylor and Phil McCracken-Wicum). McCracken has stated that he read quite voraciously growing up, due to the influence of his mother, who was a schoolteacher.<ref name="loudwireinterview">{{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}}</ref> At age 12, he started playing the trumpet in a local band called "I'm With Stupid". He attended ]<ref>{{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 }}</ref> for a brief time, before dropping out at 16.<ref name="revolvermag">{{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}}</ref>


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 ].<ref name="loudwireinterview" /><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
===Relationship with Kelly Osbourne===
In ], Bert began dating ], appearing on an episode of the show ] called "Beauty and the Bert." The couple got matching heart tattoos on their pinkies (Bert's left and Kelly's right), which Bert has kept. However, he broke up with Kelly on ] of ] over the phone, giving rise to the belief among some fans that he was using her to promote his own band. He has denied this, confessing in an interview with ] that he was "just f***ing retarded. I'm 20 years old and scared of commitment, and I can't tell her that."<ref> "The Dirty Dozen" http://www.playboy.com/sex/d12/bertmccracken</ref> Kelly, on the other hand, has repeatedly opined that Bert dated her only to raise the profile of his band, having been quoted as saying, "I have such a black heart because of him. I truly hate him for leaving me like that and it's so sad to hate... I'm torn between two feelings with him, whether he genuinely liked me for me but just couldn't handle it or he dated me because he wanted to become more famous and sadly, the signs are more pointing towards the fame side. I think if I was to come face-to-face with him now I wouldn't know whether to cry, hug him or punch his lights out - he just really f****d me up."


== Career ==
===2003-2004 and ''In Love and Death''===
]
Prior to joining The Used, McCracken was the vocalist in a ] band called Cobra Kai, which he was kicked out of after beginning to smoke ].<ref>{{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.<br>'''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.}}</ref>


In January 2001, when the band called Dumb Luck (which later became The Used, then consisting of ], Jeph Howard, and ]) 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 ] and signed to ]; they became "The Used" when it was discovered that a ] band had already trademarked the name "Used". On June 25, 2002, they released their ]. It was certified Gold by the ] on July 21, 2003. Seventeen years after its debut, it was certified Platinum on September 28, 2019.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Drinking and some forms of drug addiction continued to follow Bert. According to an interview, he used to drink up to two bottles of Jack Daniels daily. Constant touring and alcoholism didn't mix well and while touring for The Used's self titled album, he collapsed on ], ] in the middle of performing "On My Own." After being rushed to the hospital, getting treatment for severe chest pain, nausea and vomiting, and consulting several doctors he was diagnosed with ], a severe ] of the ] caused by ] of pancreatic tissue by its own ]. The condition most often stems from alcohol abuse or ], forcing McCracken to abstain from alcohol for several months afterward. To this day, he smokes ] daily and drinks one to three beers per day, though he has stopped doing drugs as of 2005.


On September 28, 2004, The Used released their second album, ], under ]. Within the first week of its release, it sold 93,240 copies and charted at number six on the Billboard 200.<ref>{{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}}</ref> By March 2005, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. On February 28, 2019, it was certified Platinum; fifteen years after its debut.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
On ], ] McCracken's former girlfriend Kate died of a drug overdose while eight months pregnant with his would-be daughter Paige, an event which, according to ], "basically destroyed him"<ref>"The Used Evolves" http://www.straight.com/article/the-used-evolves</ref> in the middle of making the band's second album, '']''. The tragedy "had a huge impact on the way it turned out. Regardless of how I wanted to put things down, they just came," <ref>"Tension, Tragedy Spawned The Used's ''In Love and Death''" http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491932/20041004/used.jhtml</ref> giving the record a much more mature energy than the previous one.


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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The case was settled out of court in 2020.
===Relationship with My Chemical Romance===
It was in 2004 that Bert became close friends with ], frontman of ], a band that Bert had admired for some time. For several months the two were ferocious party buddies (Bert having begun to drink alcohol once more) until Way chose to become sober, officially abstaining from drinking and drugs as of ], ]. The two remained friends regardless for several months afterward until they had a falling out in the spring of ], the true cause of which has been kept from the public.


In early 2024, McCracken announced that he would be releasing a solo album under the name “robbietheused”.<ref>{{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}}</ref> His debut single, "Just A Little Bit", was released on May 31, 2024.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
While friends, the two bands collaborated repeatedly, McCracken even name-checking My Chemical Romance in the first track of ''In Love and Death'', "Take It Away." In the beginning of 2005 they recorded a cover of ] and ]'s "]," which was dedicated to dying friend Sarah Meyler. All proceeds were given to a charity set up for the tsunami victims of ], 2004.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} McCracken also provided backup vocals for My Chemical Romance on their album '']'', for the song "]." <ref> "My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge" http://www.decapolis.com/music_/pages/MyChemicalRomance-ThreeChe.shtml</ref>


== Personal life ==
It was rumored that Bert and Gerard were in a relationship (which Gerard denied, saying that they went out "in a musical sense"), before their friendship turned sour. According to ], Bert was "incensed" when "Under Pressure" was put on their ] re-release of ''In Love and Death'' without his knowledge, which contributed greatly to Bert's impression that Gerard, as a result of the immense popularity of '']'', was becoming a new person that Bert did not wish to be around. In a ] interview with ], Way claimed that his decision to become sober caused them to have a falling out and McCracken soon began to trash-talk My Chemical Romance, grimly referencing the San Diego stop of ] 2005 (]), the last time that he and McCracken crossed paths. "It was really unfortunate," says Way. "We were about to take the stage and he was standing with a megaphone trying to get kids not to watch us. We just hit the feedback and drowned him out." In ] 2005 McCracken stated in an interview with VH1, "I'd prefer not to say anything about My Chemical Romance, except that we did have a falling out. We don't speak at all any more . It's got nothing to do with their success. I'm completely comfortable with where our band is at. We used to be very close, but no more. We had a falling out. The rest of my band, they're still mates with all the guys in that band. But I'd prefer to say nothing more about My Chemical Romance."
McCracken appeared on the ] show '']'' while he was dating ],<ref>{{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}}</ref> to her ] 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 '']'' was coming to a close.<ref name="theprp.com">{{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}}</ref>
One of The Used's more recent songs, "Pretty Handsome Awkward" is rumored to be about Way. ] magazine has speculated that Bert's and ]'s comments relating to the song pointed to him; Quinn's statement that it concerned "a guy with short blonde hair," and Bert's that the subject would not be offended, but "love it and wish he wrote it" raised more than a few eyebrows, though Bert has consistently denied that the song pertains to Gerard. He did, however, admit in the ] ] issue of ] that he and Way are not friends any more, that he hates him, that he believes '']'' (released by My Chemical Romance in 2006) is a joke, and the friendship between them has been has over since its recording.


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 ], Australia,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> where their first daughter, Cleopatra Rose, was born in January, 2014. Their second child, Minerva Bloom, was born on March 23, 2018.<ref>Imaginary Enemy Album Booklet</ref>
Despite rumors that Bert and Gerard were engaged in a ] relationship, it should be noted that Bert acquired a girlfriend in ] around this time named Allison, whom he took to the ] with him after the band had finished touring. In 2005 they became engaged, and to this day live together in ], ].


McCracken has struggled with ] and ] in the past,<ref name="theprp.com" /> the former referenced in the song "Bulimic" on ]'s ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> However, he has since overcome his addictions, being sober since 2012.<ref name="theprp.com" />
===2006-2007 and ''Lies for the Liars''===


Bert McCracken has voiced his ] for ] and ]<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/6x3dar/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}}</ref>
In the first half of 2006 the band took a break from touring and settled down to write their new record. During this time Bert, whose naturally ginger-blond hair he had dyed jet black since first joining The Used at age 19, dyed it a golden blonde, a change that made him greatly resemble deceased ] frontman ] (he has since gone back to black). Around the same time, he moved from ], ] to ], ], a city that fascinated and disgusted him at the same time. "I met the most fake people I had ever come across on the whole planet," McCracken stated. "They’re all just liars, and they’re so used to doing it, half the time I don’t think they even know they’re lying. Being in that environment had a direct effect on the tone of this new record, which is a little more vicious, but in a strange way, also more loving and caring." <ref>http://trig.com/theused</ref> Such an environment invoked many songwriting ideas for the writer, inspiring songs such as "]" and "]."


About a year prior to the recording of The Used's 2017 album '']'', McCracken's friend Tregen died via suicide which heavily influenced the album's lyrical content.<ref>{{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=] |date=October 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{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=] }}</ref>
At the beginning of ], The Used's drummer ] was kicked out of the band, for reasons that to this day are not entirely clear. Whilst Quinn Allman has used the term "creative differences," Bert has hinted at more personal sources of discontent with Steineckert by describing it as a "conflict of personality" between bandmembers other than himself, as he "loves him to death." <ref> "Backstage With Bert" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jMO8j15zfI</ref>


== Discography ==
Due in part to the lack of Steineckert, the sound of the band's third record '']'' (see article for album for full description) has a distinctively different sound with more experimental styles of playing explored in the making of the record. This is also influenced by Bert's more mature songwriting style, with less overdramatization and more subtle antics. The change, however, was too much for some of The Used's fanbase, made up of people who felt that the newer antics implicated that the band had "sold out," a claim that McCracken has angrily rebutted on more than one occasion.
===]===
see ]


===Trivia=== ===Solo album===
*''robbietheused'' (October 25, 2024)


=== Singles ===
*He is the youngest member of The Used.<p>
{| 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"| "]"<br />{{small|(] featuring Bert McCracken)}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Single|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/happy-xmas-war-is-over-single/id89225134|work=iTunes Store|date=November 15, 2005 |publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>
| 2005
| '']''
|-
! scope="row"| "Vampire's Diet"<br />{{small|(with ])}}<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| 2021
| ''NEED''
|-
|"Just A Little Bit"
|2024
|robbietheused
|}


=== Other appearances ===
*] was his first and greatest musical influence Other singers that have influenced him are ], ], ], ]'s ] and ].<p>
{| 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"| ]
| rowspan="3"| '']''
| rowspan="6"| Additional vocals
|-
! scope="row"| "Open Your Eyes"
|-
! scope="row"| "Woodchuck"
|-
! scope="row"| "]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anchor.fm/pageavenuecrew/episodes/Making-Page-Avenue-Part-1-eipfag|title = Making Page Avenue: Part 1 by Page Avenue Crew}}</ref>
| 2003
| ]
| '']''
|-
! scope="row"| "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison"
| 2004
| ]
| '']''
|-
! scope="row"| "Ocean Size"
| 2005
| Goldfinger
| '']''
|-
! 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
| '']''
| Guest vocals
|-
! scope="row"| "Days Are Numbered"
| 2013
| ]
| '']''
| Additional vocals
|-
! scope="row"| "Body Bag"
| rowspan="2"| 2020
| ]
| '']''
| Featured, Writer
|-
! scope="row"| "Over My Head"
| Girlfriends
| ''Girlfriends''
| Featured
|-
! scope="row"| "Think About Me"
| 2021
| ]
| '']''
| Writer
|-
! scope="row"| "]" (Rock Version)
| 2023
| ]
| '']''
| Featured
|-
! scope="row"| "Dearly Departed"
| rowspan="3"| 2024
| ]
| '']''
| Featured, Writer
|-
! scope="row"|"You're So Ugly When You Cry"<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
| ]
| rowspan="2"| ''Single''
| Featured
|-
! scope="row"|"Just A Little Bit"
|robbietheused
|Debut single from his solo project
|}


== Filmography ==
*He stands at about 5' 7" (1.70 m)<p>
=== 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: ]''
|Himself
|Documentary film
|-
!scope="row"|2007
|'']''
|Himself
|Documentary film
|-
!scope="row"|2013
|''Black Veil Brides in the Studio: The Making of Wretched & Divine''
|Himself
|Documentary film
|}


=== Television ===
*Dedicated the song "All That I've Got" to his dog, David Bowie, when it was run over by a truck.<p>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" | Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"|Role
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
!scope="row"|2002–03
|'']''
|Himself
|2 episodes
|}


== References ==
*Took gymnastics from age 7 to age 14.<ref>"Bert-oholics" http://www.myspace.com/bertoholics</ref>
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
==Discography==
{{Wikiquote}}
===Used===
* {{IMDb name|id=1816151|name=Bert McCracken profile}}
*2001: '']''
*


===]=== {{The Used}}
{{Authority control}}
{{main|The Used discography}}
*2002: '']''
*2003: '']''
*2004: '']''
*2007: '']''
*2007: '']''
*2007: '']''
*2008: '']''

==Collaborations==
*] featuring Bert McCracken - "Open Your Eyes" - ] (])
*] featuring Bert McCracken - "You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison" - ] (])
*] and ] - "Under Pressure" originally performed by Queen and David Bowie
*] and Bert McCracken - "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* at the ]
* at the ]

{{Used, The}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Bert}} {{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Bert}}
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Latest revision as of 19:44, 6 December 2024

American singer

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Bert McCracken
McCracken in 2014McCracken in 2014
Background information
Birth nameRobert Edward McCracken
Born (1982-02-25) February 25, 1982 (age 42)
Provo, Utah, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Member ofThe Used
Musical artist

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 two younger brothers (Joseph Taylor and Phil McCracken-Wicum). McCracken has stated that he read quite voraciously growing up, due to the influence of his mother, who was a schoolteacher. At age 12, he started playing the trumpet in a local band called "I'm With Stupid". He attended Timpanogos High School for a brief time, before dropping out at 16.

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. 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.

Career

McCracken with The Used in 2005

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.

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.

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. By March 2005, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. On February 28, 2019, it was certified Platinum; fifteen years after its debut.

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. 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”. His debut single, "Just A Little Bit", was released on May 31, 2024.

Personal life

McCracken appeared on the MTV show The Osbournes while he was dating Kelly Osbourne, 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.

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, where their first daughter, Cleopatra Rose, was born in January, 2014. Their second child, Minerva Bloom, was born on March 23, 2018.

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. However, he has since overcome his addictions, being sober since 2012.

Bert McCracken has voiced his support for Palestine and left-wing politics 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.

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.

Discography

The Used

see The Used discography

Solo album

  • robbietheused (October 25, 2024)

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Single Year Album
"Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"
(Street Drum Corps featuring Bert McCracken) 		2005 Taste of Christmas
"Vampire's Diet"
(with 3OH!3) 		2021 NEED
"Just A Little Bit" 2024 robbietheused

Other appearances

Title Year Artist Album Note(s)
"Spokesman" 2002 Goldfinger Open Your Eyes Additional vocals
"Open Your Eyes"
"Woodchuck"
"Anthem of Our Dying Day" 2003 Story of the Year Page Avenue
"You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison" 2004 My Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
"Ocean Size" 2005 Goldfinger Disconnection Notice
"At Least I'm Good at Something" 2006 The Distance The Rise and Fall and Everything in Between Guest
"Handjobs for Jesus" 2008 Goldfinger Hello Destiny... Guest vocals
"Days Are Numbered" 2013 Black Veil Brides Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones Additional vocals
"Body Bag" 2020 Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall Featured, Writer
"Over My Head" Girlfriends Girlfriends Featured
"Think About Me" 2021 Jxdn Tell Me About Tomorrow Writer
"Give Your Heart a Break" (Rock Version) 2023 Demi Lovato Revamped Featured
"Dearly Departed" 2024 Escape the Fate Out of the Shadows 2.0 Featured, Writer
"You're So Ugly When You Cry" The Funeral Portrait Single Featured
"Just A Little Bit" robbietheused Debut single from his solo project

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Punk Rock Holocaust Himself
2006 My Chemical Romance: Life On The Murder Scene Himself Documentary film
2007 Punk's Not Dead Himself Documentary film
2013 Black Veil Brides in the Studio: The Making of Wretched & Divine Himself Documentary film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2002–03 The Osbournes Himself 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ Hartmann, Graham (March 12, 2014). "The Used's Bert McCracken Philosophizes On The Past, Present And Future". Loudwire. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  2. Beaudoin, Jennifer (May 13, 2012). "Who Are The Used?". Q105.7. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  3. Enis, Eli (December 23, 2020). "Bert McCracken Tells Personal Stories Behind Debut's Standout Songs". Revolver. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  4. "Now That The Used Are No Longer Using, Life Is 'Unreal'". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  5. "The Used's Bert McCracken: "I'm brave, courageous, courteous, careful, loyal, thrifty and kind"". FasterLouder. April 24, 2014. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  6. "I'm Out Of My Head!". Blender. February 7, 2024. Archived from the original on October 19, 2004. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  7. Payne, Chris (2023). Where Are Your Boys Tonight? The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008. Dey Street Books. p. 146. ISBN 9780063251281. 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.
  8. "Gold & Platinum - The Used". RIAA. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  9. Montgomery, James (October 6, 2004). "Hilary Duff Debuts At #2, Ciara Lands At #3 On Albums Chart". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  10. "Gold & Platinum - In Love and Death". RIAA. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  11. "Former The Used lead guitarist sues ex-bandmates two years after being fired from Utah-based group". February 7, 2024. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  12. "The Used's Bert McCracken launches pop solo project, robbietheused". Kerrang!. May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  13. robbietheused (May 30, 2024). robbietheused- Just a Little Bit (Audio). Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. "Meet Kelly Osbourne's ex-drug addict boyfriend". The Sydney Morning Herald. February 19, 2003. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Used's Bert McCracken Discusses Losing A Loved One To Drugs, Overcoming Substance Abuse – Theprp.com". September 1, 2016.
  16. "Interview – Bert McCracken (The Used) – Cool Try". Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  17. Imaginary Enemy Album Booklet
  18. "r/Music – We're Bert, Jeph, Quinn + Dan, AKA – The Used. Ask us anything!". reddit. April 14, 2014.
  19. Loudwire (June 19, 2015). "The Used on Quinn Allman's Hiatus + Band's Future Goals". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  20. "Bert McCracken of The Used is Mad as Hell and He's Not Gonna Take It Anymore". April 21, 2014.
  21. "The Used's Bert McCracken has powerful words about life and death – Alternative Press". Alternative Press. October 26, 2017.
  22. "The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'". Billboard.
  23. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. November 15, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  24. "Vampire's Diet – Single". Apple Music. Apple Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  25. "Making Page Avenue: Part 1 by Page Avenue Crew".
  26. "THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT Enlist THE USED Vocalist BERT MCCRACKEN On New Track "You're So Ugly When You Cry" Out Today, April 19". April 19, 2024.

External links

The Used
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
EPs
Singles
Related articles
Categories: