Editing Bert McCracken

{{short description|American singer}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2007}}
{{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|
* [[Emo]]
* [[screamo]]
* {{nowrap|[[post-hardcore]]}}
* {{nowrap|[[hardcore punk]]}}
* [[punk rock]]
* [[alternative rock]]
* [[pop-punk]]}}
| 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.<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 [[Timpanogos High School]]<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 [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<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>

== 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>

== Personal life ==
McCracken appeared on the [[MTV]] show ''[[The Osbournes]]'' while he was dating [[Kelly Osbourne]],<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 [[Sharon Osbourne|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.<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>

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,<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>

McCracken has struggled with [[drug addiction]] and [[alcoholism]] in the past,<ref name="theprp.com" /> the former referenced in the song "Bulimic" on [[The Used]]'s [[The Used (album)|self-titled album]].<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" />

Bert McCracken has voiced his [[Palestinian right of return|support]] for [[Palestinian territories|Palestine]] and [[left-wing politics]]<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 ''[[Imaginary Enemy (album)|Imaginary Enemy]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

About a year prior to the recording of The Used's 2017 album ''[[The Canyon (album)|The Canyon]]'', 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=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |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=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>

== 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 Xmas (War Is Over)#Other versions|Happy Christmas (War Is Over)]]"<br />{{small|([[Street Drum Corps]] featuring Bert McCracken)}}<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| 2005
| ''[[Taste of Christmas]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "Vampire's Diet"<br />{{small|(with [[3OH!3]])}}<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 ===
{| 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 (band)|Goldfinger]]
| rowspan="3"| ''[[Open Your Eyes (Goldfinger album)|Open Your Eyes]]''
| rowspan="6"| Additional vocals
|-
! scope="row"| "Open Your Eyes"
|-
! scope="row"| "Woodchuck"
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Anthem of Our Dying Day]]"<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
| [[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 (musician)|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 (Escape the Fate album)|Out of the Shadows 2.0]]''
| 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>
| [[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|Life On The Murder Scene]]''
|Himself
|Documentary film
|-
!scope="row"|2007
|''[[Punk's Not Dead (2007 film)|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
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1816151|name=Bert McCracken profile}}
* [http://www.theused.net/ The Used official website]

{{The Used}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Bert}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alternative rock pianists]]
[[Category:American activists for Palestinian solidarity]]
[[Category:American alternative rock singers]]
[[Category:American alternative rock musicians]]
[[Category:Former Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock keyboardists]]
[[Category:American rock pianists]]
[[Category:American male pianists]]
[[Category:American video jockeys]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:Musicians from Provo, Utah]]
[[Category:The Used members]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Utah]]