The Used have cancelled all of the Canadian dates on their North American tour after frontman Bert McCracken was denied entry into the country due to his criminal record.
McCracken told Rolling Stone backstage at the Warped Tour in California that he was banned from entering the country for ten years.
“They won’t let me in”, he said. “They said not for ten years. It’s weird, they’re like, ‘You need to rehabilitate these crimes before you come back to Canada’. I’m like, ‘What does that mean?’.”
McRacken rates his offences as minor ones that occurred several years ago.
“When I say criminal record, I’m talking teensy, eensy misdemeanors they still have on my record from, like, 2001 and 2003 – trespassing”, he said.
Due to his record, McCracken said The Used have had ongoing problems entering the country over the last few years – and they had been rejected on several occasions.
“It’s nice once we get up there, but trying to get in is a nightmare every time”, McCracken said. “We’ve been strip-searched. They made us spread our butt cheeks.”
However, there is hope for Canadian fans who want to see the band live – they’re planning to play shows in cities that are close to the Canadian border.
“Detroit, Buffalo, Fargo, Seattle, Billings, Montana…we can do the Fuck Canada tour and play the borders, and all the Canadians get in for free with their passports”. he said.
