Editing Bert McCracken (section)

== Career ==
[[File:Bert McCracken - Street Scene 03.jpg|thumb|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]].<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 [[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 [[The Used (album)|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.<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>

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.<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>

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.

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>