Hailing from Orem, Utah, USA, the Used was formed in the late 90s by Bert McCracken (b. 25 February 1982, Orem, Utah, USA; vocals), Quinn Allman (b. 18 January 1982, Orem, Utah, USA; guitar), Jeph Howard (b. Jepharee Michael Howard, 4 January 1979, USA; bass) and Branden Steineckert (b. 21 April 1978, Pocatello, Idaho, USA; drums). Growing up in a staunchly conservative Mormon district of Utah, the quartet formed the Used as a reaction to the cloying conformity of their hometown. Their aggressive blend of hardcore and heavy metal proved resolutely unfashionable in the land of the Osmonds and they struggled to secure local gigs. Touring outside the confines of their native Utah brought the band to a wider audience, and they succeeded in landing a major label recording contract with Reprise Records.
The quartet’s self-titled debut album, released in 2002, was buoyed by the radio success of the single ‘The Taste Of Ink’, and by McCracken’s much publicised romance with Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Kelly, with the singer even making an appearance on the hit docu-soap The Osbournes. The Used also made a good impression on two of America’s biggest summer music events, the Ozzfest and the Warped Tour. The rarities collection Maybe Memories preceded their second studio album, In Love And Death. Originally released in September 2004, the album was re-released the following year with a cover version of the Queen / David Bowie hit ‘Under Pressure’ tacked on to the end.
Steineckert left the Used in September 2006, but was featured on the following year’s concert CD/DVD package Berth. Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth helped the band record the new studio album, Lies For The Liars, before Dan Whitesides was recruited as a full-time member.
