Derek Shawn O'Brien is an American

drummer A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one mem ...

and producer. The

Fullerton, California Fullerton ( ) is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617. Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Sa ...

-born O'Brien started his career while still at Fullerton High School (playing with the school Jazz Band, Marching Band and Orchestras led by Ron Perry) and played in Rock cover bands by night with Guitarists Stan De Witt and Frank Agnew.

Career

While still in High School, he joined local punk rock band

Social Distortion Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Brent Harding (bass, backing voca ...

and was considered to be the group's first real and consistent drummer (1981–84). His recordings with the band include the first EP "1945", Single ("Playpen"), BYO Compilation song "(Mass Hysteria)", and first full-length album '' Mommy's Little Monster''. He featured in the documentary ''Another State Of Mind''. O'Brien was also involved in D.I. (which featured many former members of Social Distortion and the

Adolescents Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the te ...

). He played on their 1983 EP '' D.I.'', which was later re-released as '' Team Goon'' on Triple X Records. Derek performs as the drummer for D.I. in the film ''

Suburbia A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...

'', and is part of D.I.'s 1983 self-promotional video '' Suburbia Sessions''. Bassist

Brent Liles Brent Harold Liles (September 7, 1963 – January 18, 2007) was an American musician who was the bassist for Social Distortion from 1981–1984 and later was the bassist for Agent Orange from 1988 – 1992. Early life Liles was born on Septembe ...

and O'Brien would again be bandmates from 1989 until 1992 with

Agent Orange Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides. It was used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. It ...

Touring North America and recording "(Real Live Sound - Agent Orange Live at the Roxy)". In 1992 ex-singer of Geffen Recording Artist "Lockup" (featuring Tom Morrelo, who later formed Rage Against The Machine) enlisted O'Brien to join. The singer Brian Grillo split up the group to form a new band Extra Fancy featuring guitarist Michael Hately and bassist David Foster. In 1995, Extra Fancy recorded a full-length album for Atlantic Records '' Sinnerman'' and an independent EP '' No Mercy'' which has several songs featured in movie soundtracks. Extra Fancy continued until 1997. In 1993, he helped to make renovations to the Bow and Clap Cathedral. From 2001-08 he played drums, sang vocal harmonies, wrote songs with The Adolescents producing their first album in 10 years "O. C. CONFIDENTIAL". During that time the Adolescents toured extensively in North America, Europe, Japan, Headlining the House Of Blues circuit, The El Rey and many festivals as well as direct support for artists such as: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, NOFX and many others. In 2012, he played drums on Triggerman's Learning to Lie LP on 1124 Records. Other bands/projects in which O'Brien has played drums with over the years include

Punk Rock Karaoke Punk Rock Karaoke is a band originally formed in 1996 in a Los Feliz bar and restaurant in Los Angeles called Vida to serve as entertainment for a New Year's Eve party. Created as an all star side project by Greg Hetson (Redd Kross, Circle Jerks, B ...

, Dragbeat, Front Row For The Meltdown featuring film composer Jeremy Little, The Generators, Second Chance, Miss Derringer and others. He and Mike Ness have long since settled their differences and though they are no longer bandmates, they remain friends. O'Brien studied at

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

for a degree in Audio Engineering and in 2000 founded D.O'B. Sound Recording Studios in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...

. In 2009 he relocated the studio to

Santa Fe Springs, California Santa Fe Springs (''Santa Fe'', Spanish for "Holy Faith") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The population was 16,223 at the 2010 census, down from 17,4 ...

and now offers recording, mixing, mastering, rehearsals, a course in audio engineering and private drum lessons. O'Brien still finds time for short international tours, local gigs, drinking orange juice, and studio drumming.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Derek American punk rock drummers American male drummers American drummers Living people Musicians from Fullerton, California UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture alumni Adolescents (band) members Social Distortion members Agent Orange (band) members Year of birth missing (living people) Punk Rock Karaoke members

Career

See also

References