THE USED's MCCRACKEN Diagnosed With Pancreas Disease
June 3, 2003THE USED vocalist Bert McCracken was rushed to a hospital and treated for intense chest pains, nausea and vomiting after slumping to the ground during "On My Own", the first and only song the band played for a radio station concert in Cincinnati on May 27. He was later diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, a severe inflammation of the pancreas caused by autodigestion of pancreatic tissue by its own enzymes.
The condition, which most often stems from alcohol abuse or gallstones, appears to contradict the band's publicist claim that the singer has never been known to consume alcohol excessively.
According to drummer Branden Steineckert, McCracken's health had been gradually deteriorating for the past two weeks but declined dramatically right before the Cincinnati show.
"He said when he'd try to eat it felt like [the food] would get lodged in his chest and nothing would sit with him," Steineckert told MTV.com. "He was vomiting and had no energy at all, and he must have had a really high temperature because we'd be on our bus and it was totally warm and he'd be wrapped in a blanket with a hoodie over his head shivering."
THE USED canceled a show last Saturday in Detroit and the next day in Cleveland but plans to play Tuesday night (June 3) for a taping in Atlanta at the Hard Rock Cafe.
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