After 25 years in the game, The Used might be seen as more of a band for ‘elder emos,’ but their songs and overall influence will always speak to generations. Their unconventional yet catchy sound has captivated the likes of Billboard and The New York Times, while inspiring subsequent bands in the scene like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy. They have scored 10 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts, received gold certification for their 2007 album, Lies for the Liars, and have received platinum certification in the United States for their first two albums, The Used and In Love and Death. Fans will be able to hear all three albums in full on the band’s ‘25 Year Anniversary Tour,’ which picks up again in August.
So far, The Used has treated fans to exclusive merch and pop up events to commemorate so many years together as a band, but their latest release is a real surprise. Lead vocalist Bert McCracken assumed that his personal notebook detailing the band’s formative years was lost forever, as it went missing 20 years ago. But, after it unexpectedly resurfaced online, it was returned to him—along with all of its magnificent contents.
In the fall, this notebook will be available for everyone to enjoy as In Love and Death: The Lost Notebook. Inside, fans will find entries related to the creation of the band’s sophomore album, In Love and Death. From personal reflections to handwritten lyrics, from poems to doodles and sketches, the book reveals the making of history. Additionally, its raw entries about topics like grief, addiction, and resilience preserve the emotion and fearlessness that the band is known for.
About the release, McCracken explains,
“This notebook is a time capsule. It’s a snapshot of who I was, what I went through, and how those emotions turned into the music we made. Getting it back brought a rush of memories—pain, joy, chaos, and everything in between.
“I never though I’d publish a book—unless it was weird, postmodern fiction. But when I found this notebook again, I knew I had to share it. I was fearless then. And there’s magic in what survived.”
In Love and Death: The Lost Notebook is due to be released in November. Copies will be available in a signed, slipcase limited edition and an unsigned non-slipcase standard edition. You can pre-order yours here.
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