The Used’s Frontman Will Rather Go To Jail Than Vote In Australia

The Used frontman Bert McCracken is willing to go to jail rather than vote in Australia – a country where he's seeking dual citizenship with America – because he doesn't believe the country's political system is closer to “fascism” than democracy.

Speaking to theMusic.com.au's Dan Cribb on the release of The Used's new album Imaginary Enemy McCracken said, “Once I solidify dual citizenship, I'll have to vote, or I'll be fined and then jailed.

“I'll pick jail over voting – that's not democracy in my mind. Mandatory voting is confusing, because that's the opposite of democracy – that's fascism.”

“YOU COULD EITHER VOTE FOR THE GUY WHO HATES HOMOSEXUALS OR THE GUY WHO DOESN'T CARE FOR FAGS”

He said, “It's hard because the Commonwealth was written so long ago. I don't believe that democracy is possible when it's based on antiquated ideas – in my mind, 100 years is antiquity.

“When the rules of the system to control people only reflect old and out of date ideas, then we need to rethink all the rules, and who writes the rules is a really important part of this 'democracy'. Being an anarchist at heart, I don't believe in that type of democracy.

“It's tough, but you have to kind of work the system's that given to you. And being in Australia, with free health care, the system is so much better in ways, and it's so much worse in ways. There's bipartisan nonsense everywhere – I think in the last election for Prime Minister, it was really tough… you could either vote for the guy who hates homosexuals or the guy who doesn't care for fags, you know. It's pretty discouraging.

Now a resident of Australia with his daughter, McCracken says that he's fought hard to battle his addiction demons.

“I've always struggled with addiction and I had a pretty strenuous drug use before I met the band. I was really into heavy drugs, but I guess I just kind of replaced addictions and tragedy and abuse with music.

"I've seen how [addiction] sucks away lives, and destroys love and actually kills people."

“I struggled intensely with alcoholism and I know that probably, especially in Australia, there's a lot of heavy drinking going on which is culturally more acceptable than even smoking weed, and it blows my mind, but I'm living hope that there's hope and that you don't have to be in the cycle – if you're like me and you have to drink every fuckin' drop that's there. I can never be the guy who has four beers, or two beers, for me it's all or nothing; I'm the best at it, so you cannot beat me.

“My life is just so much more balanced and happy without it. I endorse a good escape from reality, and I endorse a drink or a drug – a healthy drink or drug – but I wouldn't say that I could endorse the abuse of anything, because I've seen how it sucks away lives, and destroys love and actually kills people.”

Two years ago he checked himself into rehab – which proved to be the only way he could climb out of the hole he was in.

“For a long time I put it to the test. I would see if I could just have a few drinks here, or a few drinks there, and failed the test miserably every time. I was on a real destructive blackout phase, drinking, lying to everyone I knew, and even in rehab still sneaking and drinking. I did check myself in and I did get help, and I think in that context, that's the only real way I was able to climb on top of my so-called destroyed life at the moment. And there's people out there that know what it's like to be at the bottom and have no escape, and I think it's a really scary thing and trying to get help and take that step is the most scary thing. But I'm living proof that it's possible and I hope people take the chance.

“I'm a completely different person and I'm in a good headspace and I think the most important thing is my daughter never has to see me as that horrible monster.”

Imaginary Enemy is out now.

If you or someone you know needs help with addiction visit the Australian Drug Foundation here.