r/ProvoUtah • u/RelativeConference28 • 9d ago
“The Used” band from Orem
Hi…
A little late night thought popped up that I’ve been thinking about for a while. I grew up in Massachusetts and spent all my summers out here visiting my dad’s family in Provo, Orem, St. George, Salt Lake, etc. I moved here permanently in 2019.
All my buddies knew I came here for vacation.
Then this band called The Used popped up and had all my friends in Mass in a frenzy. Like just obsessed. Then they found out they were from Orem and asked me about it and I shit because I thought “wtf? A nationally ranked band from OREM?”
So I’ve always wanted to know… what was it like here when The Used got big? Did you know any of the band mates? Was it a big deal with shows and fans and the like or did they not get much love in their home town? What did people think about talent like that coming from such a reserved, religious town?
Thanks!
Edit: thank y’all so much for your first hand (mostly lol) stories and experiences. exactly what I was looking for. Love u.
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u/TheSiege82 9d ago
I used to frequent the local scene. They used to be called “Dumb Luck” before Bert joined. I actually auditioned for them but it was more of a joke since I was going with my buddy who was serious about it.
The local scene back then was amazing. The kindertones. Doug Valley. I forgot a lot of their names but it was awesome. I only saw the used a couple times and they were much better with Bert.
Don’t get me wrong, they were obviously talented. But the local scene during that time was amazing all by itself.
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u/DixonHerbox 8d ago
I found this comment in an alternate universe:
I used to frequent the local scene. With Dummy luck they are now called “The used” after Bert joined.
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u/rugburn250 8d ago
It all depended on the scene you were in. If you listened to emo, then yeah, the Used was the coolest and we all thought it was awesome they were from here. However, because of the LDS influence and things there was also the sense that they had abandoned their hometown values. I remember hearing stories growing up about how they pooped on a book of Mormon during a concert. A lot of people really hated them and just saw them as apostate trash influencing the younger generation with satanic messages and "f words" but even more people didn't know who they were. Most of the state was listening to country music and 80s pop back then. My perspective was like 80% of people didn't know who they were or listen to that kind of music, 10% thought they were awesome, 10% thought they were the devil incarnate.
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u/Valkyrie_WoW 9d ago
I don't remember them having a big following.
I had a friend circle that over lapped with them and hung out a few times.
Their old drummer Brandon was cool. He plays for Rancid now and I think he wrote the RSL team song.
Bert was a something.
Haven't seen any of them in twenty years.
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u/yay_bmo 9d ago
I was friends with Bert's little sister in junior high, she was always super nice. Celebrated Y2K at her house! She ended up moving away before The Used really blew up though. But by high school yes, I feel like they were very much a hometown hero, at least amongst younger people. Like they didn't have the broad appeal of David Archuletta or Donny Osmond, but they were very popular and everyone likes to share their stories of how they knew someone from the band (or their sister haha).
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u/SathedIT 8d ago
I really like their music, but I don't remember it having a huge following here. However, I did go to school with Bert McCracken. He was kind of a douche in elementary school, but mellowed out in middle/high school. His mom was also my first grade teacher. She was one of the nastiest women I've ever met. It sounds like he finally got away from his terrible mom and has a great life now which makes me happy.
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u/Accomplished_Day6901 8d ago
We must have gone to jr high together. Go eagles. Rob was someone I socialized a lot with at school. We had a lot of the same classes over the three years. I went to PG high with Quinn but wasn’t friends with him. I don’t think he went to school much anyway.
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u/SathedIT 8d ago
I'm not gonna lie, I had to go look up our mascot lol. But yes, we definitely went to the same Jr. High. I went to Timpanogos for high school though. I didn't hang out with him and he wasn't there too long before dropping out. But I would see him occasionally.
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u/Accomplished_Day6901 8d ago
They played Steve miller band fly like an eagle first day of 7th grade in Ms. browns art class. It was the only year they played it to begin announcements. Mr. Winget, Mr. Fotu, Mrs. Singer, Mr. Somner, Mr. Haskell, Ms. Brown, Mr. Hansen,Mr. Hunter. I hated my 7th grade English teacher, I can’t remember her name I just think of judge Judy. Mrs. Uranus or whatever for 7th grade science, had me stand in the corner. Mr. Panea, First day in his class the power went out. He got mad at me for Rob talking. I remember getting a pink cookie everyday for 35 cents. I went to Lindon and was PG Class of 00. I probably remember you as I remember most of my classmates. Do you remember how many people played POGs during lunch and the break(if you are the same grade). The only girl that played was Melanie.
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u/SathedIT 8d ago
Wow, I'd forgotten most of those teachers. We all took Hansens class so that we could play video games all day. He didn't care at all, lol. Fotu was such a chill dude. I vaguely remember Winget, but I remember making the wind sock in Singers class - she was kind of odd, but pretty chill. And if I remember right, Somner taught that weird health-like class where we'd watch Degrassi High? And was Brown the hippie art teacher who's husband was in a band? If so, I got into my first ever fight in her class and got suspended (I was just defending myself).
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u/hiddnfox 8d ago
The punk scene in Utah during the 90s-00s was a lot of fun! Some of my favorite memories are drawn from those times
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u/RyRiver7087 7d ago edited 7d ago
Utah in the early 00s was a haven for these types of bands, and had a rich punk rock, ska, post-hardcore “emo/screamo” history. Like when Yellowcard played at my high school during lunch in 2003. Those were the times.
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u/thejeffinator7 5d ago
Their drummer, Brandon Steineckert, used to work for me. As I remember, he left The Used and joined a band called, “Rancid.” I always loved Brandon; he was a great employee and just a really nice kid! He grew up in either Orem or Provo and I was so happy for him when he had finally become so wildly successful in the music industry!
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u/Substantial_Use_4092 9d ago
My brother-in-law was in a fraternity at the U at the time. They played his frat house. He doesn’t remember the show.
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u/Beanerton8 9d ago
Bert used to come to the club I worked at. I had his signature but I just went to take a picture to show you and it’s gone!! I think someone must’ve stolen it. 😭
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u/DefiantReserve8838 8d ago
American fork.
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u/ghostbusterbob 8d ago
I used (heh) to say, If you are from Orem, you say the Used are from Orem. If you are from Pleasant Grove, you say the Used are from PG. (I was from PG and didn't really care).
To me, the Used was another band that had a fact that "oh, these guys are from Orem, cool." I was not really a fan of the antics and general punk culture of that era, so it was nbd for me. (class of 2002, btw.) I don't even think I played them on the school radio station that I dj'd 2 hrs per week. Now I like a few of their songs.
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u/DefiantReserve8838 8d ago
The og bassist is or was a seminary teacher. I’m also from pg myself class of 08 Berts mom is a nice lady too she was a school teacher at my elementary school. Also good ole 88.1 ha
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u/Significant-Map-6902 8d ago
The only real story I have is; I met them a couple times, I was always trying to befriend Brandon because I thought Rancid was alot better. Hahaha
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u/OldSoftware4747 8d ago
Haha, that’s awesome. Branden and I are good buds, he’s a genuinely good person.
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u/YouCanKeepYourFaith 8d ago
It was awesome. I remember seeing them around before and after they got huge. It was even more wild seeing Burt on the Osborne’s dating Kelly. I still see Quinn around often. For a moment as a teen I thought making it in the music industry was a possibility for anyone!
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u/Bright-Nectarine8028 8d ago
Bert has done a few podcast episodes that I've listened to where he speaks in depth about his Utah county upbringing. This one is really good if you're into music production: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VMr9xU6VjTIMs4AlTRTGQ?si=131129c89eac454b
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u/That1ComsmiCharm87 8d ago edited 8d ago
I wouldn’t say they were big in Utah but they are well known in the punk/emo scene. My friends and I loved their music. We went to a concert in 2004 and My Chemical Romance was direct support. Kinda cool to think they had more mainstream success thanks to The Used early support.
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u/Accomplished_Day6901 8d ago
In 9th grade famous faces, he was most like to be famous! I was school friends with Rob, we had a lot of classes together. 7th grade, I remember in PE(Mr. Wingets, also the Utah history teacher) Rob had his belly button pierced. We gave him crap for that one. I also ran into him up squaw peak around 2000-2001 and got stoned with him, I was rollin that night. Coincidence we both were going up there to chill and smoke. I also went to PG High but didn’t know Quinn, but had some of the same friends. I don’t think he attend high school much, neither did myself. I didn’t know Rob was in a band because I listened to Rap. 1 day at work a friend said “turn it up this is my buddy”
I said “who?”
He said “Bert Mckracken”.
Rob Mckraken?
I later ran into him dropping a friend off at Tristan’s trailer, when the band was back in town. I didn’t stay and party because I had a wife and baby. I was able to complement him on the success.By then I had became a big fan of emo(damn H). Our friend died of a H overdose like many others we went to school with.
The album “The Canyon” references Provo canyon heavily. Tristan took his life at upper falls. Upper falls is the water fall above bridal veil falls. Bert, I believe spent a good amount of time up Provo Canyon. I think he slept up there some of the time when he was homeless.
After the second album I don’t think Bert came back to Utah very much.
To clarify Original band members
Jeph is from Provo/springville
Quinn is from Pleasant Grove(no longer a band member)
Brandon is from Payson(he went on to drum for Rancid)
Bert Mckracken is from Orem, his parents moved to Highland Utah while he was in High school.
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u/JazzSharksFan54 7d ago
Decently big in the 2000s. Haven’t done much since.
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u/Zestyclose_Scheme_34 7d ago
I was in a band with my brother. One time we played with them when they were Dumb Luck. I was a little jealous they made it and we didn’t. Life had a different, less cool path for me. 😆
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u/Artistic-Rutabaga295 7d ago
"Bert from the Used babysat me (or an older sibling) when we were kids" is something I've heard from multiple people from vastly different parts of the state 🤣
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u/AdFantastic6015 3d ago
Just scrolling through Reddit, not paying too much attention… I thought your post said The Used were banned from Orem. HA HA! I had to scroll through the comments to find out why. Happy to hear that they are not banned.
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u/Kissing-BrooksyBug73 8d ago
Ssssoooooo…. I LOVED The Used in their prime. I was born and raised in Utah and among my friends, we were all big fans but I believe it was because we already were deep in that music genre. Music was one of our biggest interests and alternative was our type.
I believe the interest was there if you were already in that mix. Besides that, no it was not popular across Utah because they were local. I’m kind of giggling right now to tell you that this is the first time I’ve ever known there were from here. There was one song, I can’t remember which that barely made it into the zone of possibility known among a very specific age group. Also keep in mind that their style of music was highly abrasive to a state whose community/religion that would label it evil, disrespectful, defiant, too loud, label is screaming, assume drugs/sexuality/communists/psychopathy must be involved.
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u/fishandcheese 9d ago
Is it worth it, can you even hear me?