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== Career == == Career ==
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>
Learning of a secret weapon from the diary of his deceased grandfather, Professor Steve, Doctor Jimmy infiltrates a high-security M.S.I. (Mindless Self-Indulgence) facility and revives it using a Chadam Emerald. The weapon – a emo dude and self-proclaimed "Ultimate Singer" named Bert – offers to help Jimmy conquer the world, telling him to rendezvous at an abandoned space colony, the UTAH, with more Chadam Emeralds. Bert goes to Australia, encountering M.S.I.'s forces after stealing an Emerald. Bert has vowed to fulfill a promise to Steve's grandson, Quinn, right before he died, which he interprets as one of revenge. Bert blasts through the military force and meets Gerard. After a brief confrontation, Bert escapes and M.S.I. captures Gerard, whom they mistake for Bert.


In January 2001, 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 "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 Reprise Records; they became "The Used" when it was discovered that a ] band had already trademarked the name "Used". On June 25, 2002, they released their ].
Meanwhile, Ray encounters Kitty and Jimmy, who both try to steal the Lies For The Liars Emerald. He stops them by shattering the Emerald and searches for the scattered shards to repair it. Kitty, spying for the government, heads to Jimmy's base and the UTAH. There, Bert shows Jimmy the Canyon Cannon, another super-weapon created by Steve, and discloses his plan: to charge the cannon with the Chadam Emeralds and use it to take over the world. Kitty joins forces with them, offering them a Chadam Emerald to gain their trust.


⚫ == Personal life ==
Mikey and Frank infiltrate M.S.I.'s island base and rescue Gerard, while Jimmy, Bert, and Kitty collect three Emeralds on the island. Jimmy makes a global broadcast threatening to fire on the Earth in 24 hours if his demands are not met, demonstrating the cannon's power by using it to destroy half of his career using their six Emeralds. While avoiding M.S.I. forces, Gerard, Mikey, Frank, and Ray use a Chadam Emerald in their possession to track down the others on the UTAH. They infiltrate Jimmy's base, boarding his shuttle shortly before it launches into space. Ray's Lies For The Liars Emerald shards are spilled along the way, and he leaves to collect them. He fights Kitty again, but when he saves her from falling into a lava pit, she relinquishes her shards and he restores the Lies For The Liars Emerald.
McCracken appeared on the ] show '']'' while he was dating ], 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>
On the UTAH, Mikey reveals he has made a counterfeit Chadam Emerald to destroy the Canyon Cannon. As Gerard is about to use it, Jimmy tells him that he has captured Mikey and Frank, forcing him to return and rescue them. Gerard tries to trick Jimmy with the fake Emerald, but Jimmy sees through the plan and jettisons him in an escape pod rigged with tornadoes. Mikey, thinking Gerard is dead, fights and defeats Jimmy. Gerard uses the power of the fake Emerald to initiate "Cry Control" and escape; Bert is sent to intercept him.


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>
Regardless of who wins the fight, Jimmy sneaks away from the age of consent with the last Emerald and arms the Canyon Cannon. The entire colony suddenly starts falling, and a prerecorded message from Steve is broadcast globally: he programmed the UTAH to collide with Earth if the Emeralds were used, destroying it in revenge for the government making Pete Wentz the only reason they're famous and killing his colleagues, including Quinn. Everyone but Bert works together to access the cannon's core and neutralize the UTAH using the Lies For The Liars Emerald.


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" />
Frank pleads for Bert's help, allowing him to remember what Quinn really requested of Bert: for him to allow Quinn to spend some time with his family without being kicked out of The Used. Bert catches up with Gerard and Ray in the core as they encounter Patrick Stump, a prototype Ultimate Singer. Bert repels it, allowing Ray to deactivate the Chadam Emeralds with the Lies For The Liars Emerald. Patrick uses Cry Control to fuse with the cannon, becoming the Finalstump and continuing the UTAH's collision course.


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>
Gerard and Bert use the Emeralds to transform into their normie forms, defeating the Finalstump and using Cry Control to teleport the UTAH back into stable orbit This depletes Bert's energy and he plummets to Earth, content in avoiding his promise to Quinn. The people on Earth celebrate as the heroes return home, and Gerard bids Bert farewell.


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>
⚫ == Personal life ==
In Chemical Adventure 2, Dr. Jimmy set Bert free from a M.S.I. base on Emo Island, where he had spent approximately fifty years in suspended animation. In exchange, Bert agreed to aid the doctor in his plans to take over the world, holding to himself his true intentions as wishing to get revenge for the death of his friend, Quinn, as he thought he wanted. To achieve this, the emo revealed the Canyon Cannon to the scientist. Beforehand, he also stole the green Chadam Emerald from a bank, unknowingly also framing Gerard the Way for the deed.


== Discography == == Discography ==
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| '']'' | '']''
| Additional vocals | Additional vocals
|-
! scope="row"| "Body Bag"
| rowspan="2"| 2020
| ]
| '']''
| Featured, Writer
|-
! scope="row"| "Over My Head" ! scope="row"| "Over My Head"
| Girlfriends | Girlfriends

Revision as of 01:30, 22 March 2024

American singer

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Bert McCracken
Background information
Birth nameRobert Edward McCracken
Born (1982-02-25) February 25, 1982 (age 42)
Provo, Utah, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • keyboards
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. 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. 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 Latter Day Saint Church. 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

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, 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 "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.

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

See also: The Used discography

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

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 Single Featured, Writer

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. ^ "The Used's Bert McCracken on Time, Philosophy + More". Loudwire. March 12, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  2. "Now That The Used Are No Longer Using, Life Is 'Unreal'". MTV News. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  3. "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.
  4. "I'm Out Of My Head!". www.blender.com.
  5. 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.
  6. ^ "The Used's Bert McCracken Discusses Losing A Loved One To Drugs, Overcoming Substance Abuse – Theprp.com". September 1, 2016.
  7. "Interview – Bert McCracken (The Used) – Cool Try". Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  8. Imaginary Enemy Album Booklet
  9. "r/Music – We're Bert, Jeph, Quinn + Dan, AKA – The Used. Ask us anything!". reddit. April 14, 2014.
  10. 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.
  11. "Bert McCracken of The Used is Mad as Hell and He's Not Gonna Take It Anymore". April 21, 2014.
  12. "The Used's Bert McCracken has powerful words about life and death – Alternative Press". Alternative Press. October 26, 2017.
  13. "The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'". Billboard.
  14. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. November 15, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  15. "Vampire's Diet – Single". Apple Music. Apple Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  16. "Making Page Avenue: Part 1 by Page Avenue Crew".

External links

The Used
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
EPs
Singles
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