Fifteen years after penning the lyrics to “Maybe Memories” The Used frontman Bert McCracken is living his dream of making music and playing it on the road. Whether his dream included that The Used would go on to amass a fiercely passionate international fan base and that those shows would be sold-out, or that one of their songs would feature in the pursuit of an iconic Autobot in a Hollywood blockbuster, that is his reality.
Hailing from Utah, The Used were destined for success and longevity with far-reaching music that spread a message of hope as powerful as the songs themselves. It heralded a new sound in alternative rock and unified hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. The significance of The Used’s catalogue, that includes six studio albums, is most evident when listening to their most recent record, 2016’s Live and Acoustic at The Palace. Here, accompanied by the haunting sound of strings and a gospel choir, The Used showcase raw and poignant performances of some of their most memorable songs, including “All That I’ve Got” and “The Bird and The Worm.”
Aside from the commercial success of The Used (2002) and In Love and Death (2004) the influence and cultural significance of the two first albums by The Used is undeniable, and one not lost on the band. It inspired their 15 Anniversary Tour, where they dedicate one night to each of these prolific records, playing them in their entirety. The tour began in Europe and has since made its way through every major city in the USA. It comes to Australia in November and December for a string of double dates across the country, with some nights sold out. And demand was so high that extra shows were added, and venues upgraded. Support acts for The Used’s Australian tour will be Melbourne’s Storm the Sky and Sydney’s Corpus. I spoke with Bert McCracken while he was on tour in the US, spreading “love, and more hugs, than anyone can imagine.”
When I heard about this tour my first thought was that I feel old, but then I thought you guys are too young to be doing a 15 year anniversary tour! So I felt young and old at the same time.
Well there’s no stopping time, you know, (Laughs) But yeah, it’s one of those things where it literally feels like we started the band yesterday, and also a lifetime ago. So this tour and the fans make me feel young all the time. I’m very lucky.
Why is this tour, where you perform The Used and In Love and Death in their entirety, so important?
These records are very important to a lot of people. They’ve kind of been stepping stones for people for other things, and we’re told a lot that these records even helped people live, and maybe, helped save people’s lives.
On Live and Acoustic at the Palace after “Blue and Yellow” you pay tribute to your wife and you thank her for saving your life. How do you feel when people tell you that you saved their lives?
It’s absolutely humbling. I don’t take things like that lightly. I really understand the power of music, and it’s beautiful.
What got me thinking about these two records was when they first came out, they were like a lifeline for so many, and even if some of us have since overcome what drew us to the music in the first place, we still want to listen to those songs. Why do we still resonate with them so strongly?
I think that we are every part of the puzzle. As people now, we are those mistakes and we are what we’ve made ourselves, from the things that we’ve learned, from the mistakes we’ve made. So I think maybe it’s something to be celebrated: how we dealt with situations, even how we learned to live. I think the best music is the timeless music, the music you can put on when you’re the most sad and the most happy, that kind of beautiful sort of dichotomy.
“All That I’ve Got” is my favourite song by The Used but it’s the first lines from “The Taste of Ink” that get stuck in my head and stay there for days. How does one create such memorable melodies and lyrics?
Some nights they pop into your head, some nights it’s like a battle. You sit for 12 hours with a song and have nothing, and some nights you sit down and it’s right there, right in that moment. It seems to be that with that song I remember it being around four in the morning and the lyrics and the melody came all at once. Although the chorus was different to the one on the demo, and we rewrote it when we were out in Los Angeles. It kind of summed up that feeling of ‘It’s all happening right now’, and ‘I need to make the most of this and not take any of this for granted.’
In the US, a portion of your meet and greet sales went to the Living the Dream foundation, while here, a portion of ticket sales will go to Sea Shepherd Australia. Why is giving back so important for The Used, and why did you choose this particular charity?
We love the world we live in. The Used cares about the world we live in. There are so many issues out there and it’s always hard to kind of choose, but we know Sea Shepherd is an ethical, reputable charity. They’re fighting the good fight, and that makes a big difference.
You’ve been living in Australia for about three years now, how’s the transition been, and what’s the best thing about living here?
Huge transition. There aren’t a lot of differences, but there are so many big differences. Of course it’s an adjustment after living somewhere for 30 years, just the driving alone is enough adjustment to barely be able to handle it. (Laughs) I love the nature, I wake up and there are birds chirping. Australia is a very beautiful place. It’s a very safe and also a culturally diverse place to raise a child who I believe has an opportunity to make a whole new world that exists without hate and bigotry, so in that way I feel very, very, lucky. The people that my daughter is around daily are beautiful people, and I think Australians in general are open enough to at least have a conversation about something.
How is your little girl and how are the toddler years going?
She’s a bit of a wild one. She’s like her dad in a lot of crazy ways. She’s actually such a good girl too. She’s so smart; it scares us.
You’re an avid reader, what’s a book you would like to recommend?
A good book to suggest is Candide by Voltaire, if you haven’t read that. It’s beautiful.
And a classic!
Right? One of the classics!
I’m glad you recommended another literary classic, as I know you also like to recommend 1984 (by George Orwell).
I try to wear my Orwell 1984 shirt for In Love and Death night, every night. I think it kind of ties together beautifully.
Why do you think The Used remains not only successful and relevant, but also such a popular band to see live?
We’re very humble, and we understand that we are the part of a bigger picture and we’re very, very fortunate and blessed by the universe. The most high I’ve ever been in my life is after a rock show. It’s not only that love that we all share in that room, but also from dedication and hard work and completing something. But it’s not easy; there’s actual hard work. I’m not saying that what I do is a job, but at the same time the fact that we care so much and we work so hard for it, it’s really that fulfillment I think that’s the most high you can get.
Whether they are The Used “live” veterans, or seeing the band for the first time, what can fans look forward to on this special tour in Australia?
I think The Used is at the most important and most passionate and kind of climactic moment in our musical lives right now; it’s like the pinnacle of our careers up to this point. We’ve never been more passionate or inspired, and so I think what people can expect is to make real and serious tangible memories, that will last for the rest of their lives.
Where to after Australia? I know there’s new music coming next year. You’re living the dream. What next?
The dream is still alive. And it’s always been my dream to make music and play it on the road. I see this as the beginning of another beautiful 15 years. I’ll be making music 50 years from now. So much to live for. And so much beautiful music to come.
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The Used is Bert McCracken (vocals), Jeph Howard (bass), Dan Whitesides (drums), and Justin Shekoski (guitar). The Used 15 Anniversary Tour begins in Melbourne on November 21. For tickets head here. Purchase Live and Acoustic at The Palace here.
THE USED AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
November 21st | 170 Russell, MELBOURNE | 18+
performing The Used
November 22nd | 170 Russell, MELBOURNE | 18+ | SOLD OUT
performing In Love and Death
November 25th | Metropolis, FREMATLE | 18+
performing In Love and Death
show moved from November 27th
November 26th | Metropolis, FREMANTLE | 18+
performing The Used
November 29th | HQ Complex, ADELAIDE | 18+
performing The Used
November 30th | HQ Complex, ADELAIDE | 18+
performing In Love and Death
December 2nd | Enmore Theatre, SYDNEY | Lic/AA
performing The Used
December 3rd | Enmore Theatre, SYDNEY | Lic/AA
performing In Love and Death
December 5th | 170 Russell, MELBOURNE | 18+ | SOLD OUT
performing The Used
December 6th | 170 Russell, MELBOURNE | 18+ | SOLD OUT
performing In Love and Death
December 9th | Eatons Hill, BRISBANE | 18+
performing In Love and Death
venue upgraded due to demand
December 10th | Eatons Hill, BRISBANE | 18+
performing The Used
show moved from December 8th, venue upgraded due to demand
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