Bert McCracken

Bert McCracken
File:The Used-3058 (18837806635).jpg
Background information
Birth name	Robert Edward McCracken
Born	(1982-02-25) February 25, 1982 Provo, Utah
Genres	Alternative rock, emo, post-hardcore, hard rock, punk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, piano, trumpet, guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, programming
Labels	Reprise Records
Associated acts	The Used, I'm With Stupid, My Chemical Romance, Street Drum Corps, Goldfinger, Black Veil Brides

Robert Edward "Bert" McCracken (born February 25, 1982) is the lead singer and songwriter of the American rock band The Used.

Biography

McCracken was born in Provo but grew up in Orem, Utah, US, and was raised in a Mormon family. He has three sisters (Katie, Melanie, Rachel) and one younger brother (Joseph Taylor). He attended Timpanogos High School for a brief time, before dropping out at 16. Before joining The Used, he played the trumpet in a local band called I'm With Stupid, starting at age 12.

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 by going to other churches. 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 girlfriend Kate. 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.

Outside Music

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 ex-girlfriend died of a drug overdose while pregnant with his child.

In July 2008 McCracken married his Australian fianceé, Alison Schneider, at a private ceremony in Los Angeles. In 2013 he announced that he and his wife had relocated from Los Angeles, to Sydney, Australia, where their one daughter, Cleopatra Rose McCracken, was born in 2013.

Discography

The Used

Main article: The Used discography

Collaborations

• 2002: Goldfinger featuring Bert McCracken – "Open Your Eyes" – Open Your Eyes
• 2002: Goldfinger featuring Bert McCracken – "Spokesman" – Open Your Eyes
• 2002: Goldfinger featuring Bert McCracken – "Woodchuck" – Open Your Eyes
• 2004: My Chemical Romance featuring Bert McCracken – "You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison" – Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
• 2004: Linkin Park featuring Bert McCracken – "Faint" (Live) on Projekt Revolution
• 2005: Goldfinger featuring Bert McCracken – "Ocean Size" – Disconnection Notice
• 2005: Street Drum Corps and Bert McCracken – "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" – Taste of Christmas
• 2006: The Distance featuring Bert McCracken – "At Least I'm Good at Something" – The Rise And Fall And Everything in Between
• 2008: Goldfinger featuring Bert McCracken and Monique Powell – "Handjobs For Jesus" – Hello Destiny
• 2013: Black Veil Brides featuring Bert McCracken – "Days Are Numbered" – Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones

External links

• Bert McCracken profile at the Internet Movie Database
• The Used official website