The Used: gross pop, tasty cuisine

(Credit: Warner Bros. Records)

Utah-based rockers the Used pretty much rule the screamo world, but lead singer Bert McCracken disdains the genre. Or at least the name. So much so that he created a fresh term for what he does: “gross pop.”

McCracken sings about how much his life sucks, but says all that hate is just another side of love. Listen to the Used’s new album, “Artwork,” or any of the band’s past offerings, and you’ll peg McCracken as a sad-sack loser. But, in conversation, he comes across as the kind of good fellow you’d like to meet for a beer—or be invited to his house for a dinner party.

The recovering Mormon called a few hours before the Used played a gig in Leeds, England. We talked about everything from religion to married life to partying to his audition for the Food Network. McCracken says he’s a gourmet chef—and who are we to disagree?

When you came up with the term “gross pop,” did you know you were on to something? 
Fuck yeah!

Were you consciously trying to come up with a name for the music you make?
It was more just a backlash to all the emo and screamo and dream-o and all the fucking garbage. We’ve kind of have been lumped into a category since we started and people say we’re trying to pioneer this kind of [“gross pop”] music, but deep down we’re just a rock ’n’ roll band.

On “Artwork,” there’s this overall theme of self-hatred. Is that how you view yourself?
Well, there is no love without hate. So, I think deep down you can’t really love something until you know it fully and hate it all the way.

“Artwork” debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, the Used’s highest chart position. Does that stuff matter to you?
No, not really. After the record is done I’m just stoked we made a great record that we’re proud of. And anyone who wants to hear it, anyone who wants to buy it, anyone who wants to steal it, so long as they’re listening, I’m cool.

The track “Meant to Die” is a tribute of sorts to Heath Ledger. Did you ever meet the actor?
I never got to meet him but a bunch of my friends were really close friends with him and I was on tour and he lived next door to my friend and I was probably weeks away from being able to meet him and become friends. I just really respected everything he has done—he’s like a wonderful, wonderful actor and an inspiration to me and the fact that people do die all the time on accident is a pretty complex idea, I guess.

We’re both ex-Mormons. How much do you feel being raised in the church—and rebelling against the strict religion at a young age—has influenced you as a songwriter and person?
The way that I like to look at it as I have the ultimate respect for what everyone in this world believes in and so long as I can get the same kind of respect back—that’s all that matters. For a lot of people, religion is therapeutic and life saving just as music is for me, y’know? I’m not judging anyone. It’s better for me to write about how I feel about believing in God, or not believing in God.

Do you grapple at all with your beliefs?
I’m not really all that concerned. I don’t believe in Santa Claus, or the Easter Bunny or—Jesus. [Laughs] I don’t know, I think it’s all kind of a crazy idea, y’know?

You had a drug problem in the past, and have experimented with just about every illegal substance out there. Do you still party?
No, no, we party. We’re a rock ’n’ roll band. [Laughs]

What’s your beverage of choice?
Yeah, I like beer. I like beer a lot. I like a good Italian Peroni, Kronenbourg, or a nice pint of Stella. I like a good cerveza. I enjoy a lot of good red and white wines, too.

Do you feel married life has made you more mellow?
In a big way. I think we have something to live for. I’m kind of obligated to take care of this person I have made promises to and who I am absolutely in love with. So, it helps me realize what’s important in my life. I don’t know if it’s mellowed me out, but I’m definitely a little more conscious of where I am at in the nighttime and what’s going on and what’s going into my body.

Bert, you’re seen as the brooding, hard-living rocker. What’s a side of you that your wife sees, or your loved one’s see, that the fans don’t see?
I think that something that would surprise everyone to know is I’m a gourmet chef and I can cook the shit out of just about anything—specializing in a lot of Spanish cuisine and tapas and anything with saffron. I’m really passionate about creating all kinds of food.

Your wife is a lucky woman.
No doubt. [Laughs]

When did this passion for cooking come about?
I always liked to cook—was in the kitchen a lot with my grandma, my mom. Um, no offense, but my mom is not the best cook in the world and my family doesn’t have the most adventurous palates, so I think being able to travel the world and eat things like snails and frog’s legs and just try out different tastes really inspired me.

Have you ever considered doing a cooking show?
I actually had the production company for the “Ace of Cakes” show come to my house and shoot a little pilot for the Food Network—see if they want to put a loudmouth fuckup on their network. [Laughs] I’d definitely be interested in it. I’m working on a cookbook right now. It’s something that keeps me interested on the side.