ALL AGES caught up with The Used's bassist Jeph before their free show at the Sam Ash music store in Lombard, IL. The interview was not one that had been scheduled so we just shot from the hip with the questions. Overall we think it turned out well and gave us some insight to the band and their history. Their set was full of amazing energy and lead vocalist, Bert McCraken, played to the crowd very well and showed sincere appreciation for everyone who came out.
1.What do you think it means to sellout?
Going against what your beliefs are. We can never sell out. All of the deals we made allow us to have the finally say and everything we do.
2. What was the first punk rock song you ever heard?
What’s punk? You’ve got pop punk, punk rock, emo. How can you even call a band emo because they are emotional? A ton of bands are emotional.
Jeff - Like Michael Bolton
Exactly
3. What about the punk scene attracted you to it?
I never really got into actually. I guess Op Ivy would be considered punk and I listened to them, which led to me liking Green Day then that brought me into the Weezer scene. I listened to mostly metal growing up.
4. What is it like when a kid tells you that it’s because of your influence that they started their band?
There is no better feeling than that. Knowing that you were able to help someone out in any way is an amazing feeling.
5. What do you think about downloading?
It’s all right. The only bands that seem to really care about it are the ones that have too much money. I just want to play music and the more people that listen to it the better.
6. What was it like working with John Feldman on the first record?
It was amazing. John is amazing.
7. How did that come about?
We had all been playing in local bands in the Utah Valley scene. We are like the black sheep of the scene. We started a band called the Used without Bert and we wrote all the music for “Maybe Memories,” and tried out a few singers. Our drummer got the idea to try Bert and it worked. It felt right. Our drummer sent our first demo out to John cause he kind of knew him or something, and John liked it. He flew us out to LA and we began to record with him.
8. Did you play any shows with Goldfinger first or no?
No. I think we were the first of all the bands John’s worked with that didn’t play a show with him before we worked with him.
9. What was the most beneficial tour for you to be a part of before you got big?
I would have to say last years Warped Tour (2002). No one really knew us before that. We were playing mostly the Volcom stage, and on some dates the second stage. After warped it all blew up for us.
10. Who will be the next band to break out of the Utah scene? Well we were the first band signed from it and rumor has it that three bands were signed right after we were, which is cool. Other than the Osmond’s we were the only others signed from Utah that made a difference. Other little bands were signed too. There is this band New Transit Direction that is amazing. They play indie rock. We are trying to get them signed. Qwan is good to if they are still around. Red Danny’s I loved growing up.
11. What was the best part of the local Utah Valley scene before you got signed?
Well like in California you could be a really good band, but you are just one of many. You are just a small part of a big scene no matter how good you are. In Utah Valley you are a big part of a small scene. Everyone in the bands knows each other so it is like family.
12. What can we expect to hear from your follow-up album to your Self-Titled debut?
It is going to be different. We have all grown up and matured over the last two years. There is a new feel to the music a new vibe.
13. When will you begin working on it?
After this years Warped Tour (2003). We have a lot of ideas for the songs, but we haven’t put anything down yet.
14. What CD is currently spinning in your CD player?
Converge – Jane Doe. That is such an amazing album. And Cave In’s newest one. Their new stuff is so much different than their old stuff but they are just so good.
15. Do you prefer festivals or clubs?
I don’t really like being in the sun. I hate it, so the nighttime shows I like. Fests are too much of a hassle. At a club everyone is there to see the show.
16. What band past or present would you love to play a show with?
Snot and we almost had the chance to. Jamie, their drummer, played for us once and it was amazing. There are so many bands though so it is really hard to say just one.
17. What were your thoughts about the radio and MTV before you were on them?
Radio sucked. They were playing a bunch of shitty songs by shitty bands. We wanted to change it and make people want to listen to the radio again. MTV was the same way. It was always a rap or hip-hop video or whatever reality show they were showing at the moment.
18. So should we ask about the Osbournes?
Nope
19. What is going to be different for you guys on the 2003 Warped Tour from last years?
This year is much better. It is smaller than last year, which sucks for some of the smaller bands, but for us it is like family this year. All of the bands we’ve been playing shows with are on this year’s tour. We know just about everyone this year.
