Producer Dave Jerden, whose work on seminal albums by Jane’s Addiction and Alice in Chains helped define the alternative-rock revolution of the late ’80s and early ’90s, has died at the age of 75.
The news of Jerden’s passing was shared by his son Bryan, who wrote on Facebook, “Our father David Jerden passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday February 5th. It’s hard to express in words what he meant to me, my sister Michelle, and the rest of our family. He was larger than life and was deeply passionate about so many things, from history to science, but above all he was a music maker.”
He continued, “He worked with so many great artists and together they forged some very interesting and memorable musical pathways and of which I am very proud. We will miss his smile, his uncontrollable laughter, his mind-bending stories and great conversations. The memories will live on forever. The music will live on and so will our love. Rest well, Dad. Thanks for your love and inspiration.”
Jerden co-produced Jane’s Addiction’s classic albums Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual with Perry Farrell, and produced Alice in Chains’ first two albums: Facelift and Dirt (co-produced with the band).
He got his start at Los Angeles’ Eldorado Recording Studios in the late ’70s, with some of his early engineering and mixing credits including Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ self-titled debut, The Rolling Stones’ Dirty Work, and multiple Herbie Hancock releases.
Other notable albums Jerden produced are Social Distortion’s breakthrough 1990 self-titled LP and its follow up, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, The Offspring’s Ixnay on the Hombre and Americana, and releases from Anthrax, Stabbing Westward, and more.
In a 2013 interview, Jerden said, “My father was a musician, so I used to go to sessions with him. I watched the engineer, and I thought he was the most important guy in the room. He was the guy making the record, not the producer. The engineer was always working. He knew what all the knobs and equipment did — he was like a rocket scientist.”
Our condolences go out to Jerden’s family, friends, and the many musicians he worked with during this difficult time. Watch a couple videos below in which Jerden breaks down the production on Alice in Chains’ “Man in the Box” and Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing.”