Derek O'Brien

Ladies and gentlemen...

Derek O'Brien, drummer for Social D in 1981 - 1984 has kept busy.  He recently graced sxdx.com with an exclusive interview.  So put "Mommy's Little Monster" on and turn it up, because here we go.

SxDx.com:  Social Distortion, D.I., the Adolescents, Agent Orange, The Foes, Dragbeat, Punk Rock Karaoke, Extra Fancy, you've had a busy career.  Did we leave any out?  Some quick thoughts on your tenure in each band?  Which were most fulfilling to you? 
DO'B:  I was not in the Adolescents but I played in a cover band with Frank Agnew when we were 14 years old! 
I had some pretty monumental moments with S.D. that at the time, I think I took for granted. That was my first real experience with a band. I had some great times with Agent Orange touring and gigging locally. I just wish I would had recorded more. D.I. left me feeling kind of sad because I got to see our old friend Casey Royer sell off all of our royalty rights for a little bit of drug money. Extra Fancy was creatively and artistically a rewarding experience. I got to branch out with writing and playing a lot of eclectic music styles. Drag Beat - everything from Jazz to Latin to Metal. Cool folks but I was basically just a (Side Mouse). With The Foes, I am doing all the writing and business. It's a hand full!  We are looking for a replacement singer who can bring something to the table. Punk Rock Karaoke is working out a deal with Epitaph to record CD's with guest singers from other bands on half and instrumental karaoke versions on the other half. We will also be doing Warped Tour this summer and some local clubs in Feb. My New Year's resolution is to keep the site updated! 
    Oh yeah, then there was Legal Weapon, Outer Circle, The Fontanels etc. but perhaps another time! 

check out: 
http://www.punkrockkaraoke.com 
http://www.thefoes.com

SxDx.com:  How accurate do you feel the film "Another State Of Mind" was?  Do you think the people involved and the situations were portrayed fairly? 
DO'B:  The guys filming were never around for the good stuff like the bathtub beer parties, gang fights and the real inter political upheaval. They would mostly just follow around who ever had the most colorful hair because that was what they thought punk was. 

SxDx.com:  What were the conditions that led to your departure from Social 
D?  Mike Ness stated once that Social D's drummer and bassist left during a 
gig on New Year's Eve, 1984.  Was he referring to you and Brent Liles? 
DO'B:  How poetic, I suppose it was a full moon too?  Brent and I left after putting up with a missing singer, missing musical equipment, and an M.I.A. manager (Monk) who would have all the royalty checks sent to him so he could keep his drug business going and keep moving around the country and avoid paying us. We never walked away from a gig. I would never do that. 

SxDx.com:  On a bootleg recording from 1982 (Live At Godzilla's), Social 
Distortion did a cover of "Wild Thing."  Who was it that did the vocals on 
the song, and what other covers did you perform with the band?
DO'B:   Dunno! Could have been anyone. Bad Moon (C.C.R.), Under My Thumb, Louie Louie, anything with 3 chords. 

SxDx.com:  "Mommy's Little Monster" is still considered one of the classic punk 
albums of all time.  Thoughts on that?  Was there any feeling as it was 
being made that it was something special?
DO'B:   Thanks. No, not really at the time. 

SxDx.com:  Was there ever any talk of reuniting with Social D after the departures 
of Chris Reece or Chuck Biscuits?
DO'B:  Right before Chuck joined the band, I ran into Mike at Excene Cervenka's store in Silverlake. He told me that they were looking for a drummer and had jammed with Chuck but wasn't sure. Extra Fancy had just signed a deal with Atlantic records and I was obligated to fulfill my contract. I thought for a minute and said well, Chuck is pretty good. Guess I blew it! 

SxDx.com:  The "When The Angels Sing" benefit last spring was a huge event...what 
were your feelings that day? 
DO'B:  I think the focus should have been more on the loss and less on lighting stuff on fire and throwing seats. 

SxDx.com:  What are the last five cds/albums you've bought (what have you been 
listening to lately)?
DO'B:  Weezer, Queens of the Stone Age, At the Drive-In, Early Bad Religion, Get Up Kids. 

SxDx.com:  Atlantic Records marketed Extra Fancy as "gay rock."  What is "gay 
rock" and do you think that label led to the band's demise? 
DO'B:  Unfortunately, some Major Record Company  execs and band managers try to live their fantasies through the artists they work with. Their personal agendas become the focus when promoting rather than the music and performance of the band. The only gay member of Extra Fancy was the singer. His words were perceived as poetry that went with the music and we had all kinds of fans up until 3 individuals (outside of the band) concocted these lame labels and used them as promotional spin. They thought "Oh, the press will just eat this up". Needless to say, they spoiled the broth. 

SxDx.com:  What is your favorite memory from your Social Distortion days?
DO'B:   Believe it or not, there are too many to mention. We were pretty damn busy between 81 and 84. 

SxDx.com:  Any advice or words of encouragement for kids wanting to start a band?
DO'B:  Do it for the right reasons and don't be afraid to be original. 

SxDx.com:  Whose idea was Punk Rock Karaoke?
DO'B:  Greg Hetson and (Restaurant owner / Chef) Fred Eric of Vida and Fred 62. 

SxDx.com:  The Foes have mp3s available at www.mp3.com, is there or will there be a release available? 
DO'B:  We are waiting to find the right singer and then will record more. There are a ton of new songs that have not been recorded yet. Still a very new work in progress.  
  
There you have it.  Many thanks to Derek for taking the time for the interview.  To keep up with his projects, be sure to check out www.thefoes.com and www.punkrockkaraoke.com!