The Used emerged at the dawn of the 21st century as a formidable force in the alternative music scene, blending raw emotional vulnerability with aggressive instrumentation. Their sound became a cornerstone of the era’s rock landscape, defining a generation of listeners with a potent mix of post-hardcore intensity and emo catharsis. The band’s journey is one of commercial success, personal turmoil, and consistent artistic evolution, cementing their status as an enduring and influential act whose music continues to resonate deeply with fans, making their songs essential highlights at any Pittsburgh Emo Night.
Formation and Early Era
The seeds of The Used were planted in a fertile early 2000s music scene that was primed for a new wave of emotionally charged rock music. The band’s origins in Orem, Utah, set the stage for a rapid ascent from local curiosity to international phenomenon.
Origins and Formation
The Used officially formed in 2001, but its instrumental foundation—guitarist Quinn Allman, bassist Jeph Howard, and drummer Branden Steineckert—had been playing together in various projects since 1999. Feeling their music was missing a crucial element, they began a search for a vocalist. The trio compiled an instrumental demo and gave it to a local musician named Bert McCracken. At the time, McCracken was struggling with personal issues and homelessness, but upon hearing the music, he connected with it instantly. He wrote lyrics for a song that would become “Maybe Memories” and returned the next day with a vocal recording that astounded the band. His distinctive voice, capable of shifting from melodic crooning to visceral screaming, was the final piece of the puzzle. With the lineup complete, The Used was born.
The band’s chemistry was immediate and powerful. They quickly recorded a demo that caught the attention of producer and Goldfinger frontman John Feldmann. Feldmann, recognizing their unique potential, became an ardent champion for the group, flying them to Los Angeles and helping them shop their demo to record labels. Despite facing initial rejections, their persistence and Feldmann’s belief paid off when they signed with Reprise Records in late 2001.
Early Discography
With a record deal secured, The Used entered the studio with John Feldmann to record their debut album. The result was the self-titled The Used, released on June 25, 2002. The album was a landmark release for the early 2000s emo and post-hardcore movements. It captured the band’s raw, kinetic energy and McCracken’s unfiltered lyrical honesty, which explored themes of heartbreak, addiction, alienation, and hope. The album’s lead single, “The Taste of Ink,” became an anthem for disaffected youth, its soaring chorus and narrative of escaping small-town life striking a chord with a massive audience. Subsequent singles “Buried Myself Alive” and “Blue and Yellow” further solidified the album’s success.
The Used was not an immediate chart-topper but built momentum through relentless touring, including memorable runs on the Vans Warped Tour, where their chaotic and impassioned live performances won over legions of new fans. The album’s slow-burn success eventually led to it being certified Platinum by the RIAA. To bridge the gap between their debut and sophomore efforts, the band released the compilation CD/DVD Maybe Memories in 2003. It featured B-sides, live tracks, demos, and a behind-the-scenes documentary, offering fans a deeper look into the band’s world and tiding them over until their next full-length statement.
The Mainstream Breakthrough
Following the foundational success of their debut, The Used was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the burgeoning mainstream popularity of emo and alternative rock. Their second album would launch them from scene favorites to genuine rock stars.
Pivotal Album(s) and Lineup Changes
The band’s mainstream breakthrough was unequivocally achieved with their sophomore album, In Love and Death, released on September 28, 2004. Once again produced by John Feldmann, the album demonstrated significant artistic growth. While retaining the raw emotion of their debut, the songwriting was more focused, the production more polished, and the sonic palette more expansive. The album was deeply personal for McCracken, written in the aftermath of the death of his pregnant girlfriend. This tragic context imbued the record with a profound sense of grief and urgency that resonated powerfully with listeners.
Singles like “Take It Away,” “All That I’ve Got,” and “I Caught Fire” dominated rock radio and MTV. “All That I’ve Got” was particularly successful, earning heavy rotation and becoming one of the band’s most recognizable songs. The album was a commercial juggernaut, debuting at number 6 on the Billboard 200 and eventually being certified Gold. This period saw the original lineup solidify their status as a cohesive and formidable unit, with no changes occurring during this critical phase of their career.
Achieving Critical and Commercial Success
With In Love and Death, The Used cemented their place in the upper echelon of the alternative rock world. They graduated to headlining major tours, graced the covers of prominent music magazines like Alternative Press and Kerrang!, and became a fixture of the music festival circuit. Their success was part of a larger cultural moment, as bands blending pop-punk accessibility with emo introspection took over the airwaves. The Used, however, always maintained a darker, more aggressive edge that set them apart from many of their peers. Their critical and commercial success during this period was a testament to their ability to write songs that were both deeply personal and universally relatable, creating anthems that remain staples at any Emo Night Pittsburgh event to this day.
Musical Evolution and Key Events
As the band navigated the peak of their fame, they faced the challenge of evolving their sound while dealing with significant internal changes and the shifting landscape of popular music.
Mid-career Albums and Sonic Shifts
The Used’s third album, Lies for the Liars (2007), marked their first major sonic shift and was the first album to feature new drummer Dan Whitesides, who replaced Branden Steineckert in 2006. The album embraced a more theatrical, almost grandiose alternative rock sound, incorporating string arrangements and a more polished production. While commercially successful, debuting at number 5 on the Billboard 200, its departure from their rawer roots received a mixed reaction from some longtime fans.
They followed this with Artwork in 2009, an album the band themselves described as “gross pop.” It represented a deliberate move toward a darker, more dissonant, and lyrically cynical sound, exploring themes of disillusionment with fame and society. It was a challenging record that showcased their artistic restlessness and unwillingness to be creatively stagnant.
In 2012, the band released Vulnerable on their own newly formed label, Anger Music, in partnership with Hopeless Records. This album saw the band incorporating electronic and dance-pop elements into their sound, further demonstrating their desire to experiment and push their own boundaries.
Hiatus, Reunions, or Significant Member Departures
This period was defined by significant lineup instability. The first major change came in 2006 with the controversial dismissal of founding drummer Branden Steineckert, who was replaced by Dan Whitesides. A more profound shift occurred in 2015 when founding guitarist and key songwriter Quinn Allman went on a temporary hiatus, which was later made permanent. He was replaced by Justin Shekoski, formerly of Saosin.
Shekoski performed on the band’s 2017 album The Canyon, but his tenure ended in 2018 amidst legal disputes. He was subsequently replaced by the band’s current guitarist, Joey Bradford. These departures and replacements significantly altered the band’s internal dynamic, leaving McCracken and Howard as the only remaining founding members. There has never been an official hiatus or breakup, but these periods of transition were pivotal in shaping the band’s modern identity.
Modern Era
Despite lineup changes and the passage of time, The Used has continued to release music and tour consistently, proving their resilience and dedication to their craft and fanbase.
Recent Albums and Contemporary Activity
The band’s later work has seen them reflect on their history while continuing to evolve. The Canyon (2017) was a sprawling, deeply emotional double album recorded almost entirely live in the studio. It grappled with the suicide of one of McCracken’s close friends and was praised by critics for its raw vulnerability and ambitious scope.
In 2020, they released Heartwork, an album that many fans and critics saw as a “return to form.” It consciously recalled the energy and sound of their early work, blending aggressive post-hardcore riffs with infectious pop-punk choruses. The album featured collaborations with members of Blink-182, Beartooth, and Fever 333, connecting their legacy to both their influences and contemporary artists.
Their most recent studio album, Toxic Positivity, was released in 2023. The record continues to explore themes of mental health, depression, and self-awareness with the signature blend of raw honesty and anthemic songwriting that has defined their career. The band remains a powerful live act, touring extensively and connecting with both new fans and those who grew up with their music.
Cultural Impact and Connection to the Scene
The Used’s legacy is measured not just in album sales but in the profound impact they had on a generation of music fans and the artists who followed them.
Influence on Their Primary Genres
The Used was instrumental in popularizing the blend of screamo’s aggression with the melodic and lyrical sensibilities of emo. Bert McCracken’s dynamic vocal style set a new standard for frontmen in the genre, demonstrating that it was possible to be both viscerally intense and melodically sophisticated. Their willingness to tackle dark, personal subject matter with unflinching honesty opened the door for countless other bands to explore similar themes. They provided a soundtrack for a generation navigating the complexities of adolescence and young adulthood, and their influence can be heard in a wide range of modern rock and alternative bands.
Relevance in Nostalgia Events like Emo Night Pittsburgh
The enduring popularity of The Used is vividly on display at events like Emo Night Pittsburgh. Their early hits, particularly from The Used and In Love and Death, are not merely nostalgic tracks; they are foundational anthems of the genre. Songs like “The Taste of Ink” and “All That I’ve Got” possess a timeless quality that prompts immediate, full-throated singalongs from crowds who still feel a deep connection to the music. The raw emotion and cathartic energy of their work make it perfectly suited for a communal experience like a Pittsburgh Emo Night, where fans gather to celebrate the music that shaped them. The Used is more than a band from a specific era; they are a vital part of the emo and post-hardcore canon, and their music remains a powerful force in both recorded form and live celebratory settings.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Used
- When did The Used form?
The Used officially formed in Orem, Utah, in 2001 after vocalist Bert McCracken joined the existing instrumental lineup of Quinn Allman, Jeph Howard, and Branden Steineckert. - Who are the current members of The Used?
As of their latest album, the current members of The Used are Bert McCracken (lead vocals), Jeph Howard (bass guitar), Dan Whitesides (drums), and Joey Bradford (guitar). - What is The Used’s most successful album?
Commercially, their 2004 album In Love and Death was a massive success, achieving Gold certification and featuring hit singles like “All That I’ve Got.” Their 2002 self-titled debut, The Used, has been certified Platinum, making it their highest-selling album in the long run. - What genre of music is The Used?
The Used is most commonly classified within the emo and post-hardcore genres. Their music also incorporates elements of alternative rock, pop-punk, and screamo, particularly in their vocal delivery and song structures. - What is the story behind the song “The Taste of Ink”?
The song “The Taste of Ink” is about feeling trapped in one’s hometown (Orem, Utah) and the desperate desire to escape and pursue a more fulfilling life. The lyrics reflect the band’s real-life ambitions to leave their old lives behind for the promise of a future in music. - Is The Used still together and making music?
Yes, The Used is still an active band. They continue to tour worldwide and release new music, with their most recent studio album, Toxic Positivity, having been released in May 2023.
