Sean O’Brien is the former lead singer of several California-based rock groups going back in time almost forty years. The groups include: MEANTIME, TRUE WEST, DENIM TV, and THE MARIETTAS. Side projects include Sante Fe, by The Mistaken (Triple X) featuring Gregg Turner of the Angry Samoans.. 1999 saw the release of 12 by The Mariettas, a powerful punk-pop quartet which included former members of several legendary LA-area groups; such as The Leaving Trains, Baby Lemonade and Arthur Lee and Love.

Sean returned to his native Bay Area in 2001. His first solo album, Too Personal, was released in 2005 and Seed of Mayhem in 2006 with guest artists Manfred and Tom Hofer of Leaving Trains and Russ Tolman of True West. In 2006 Sean formed his permanent group, Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands: featuring Jeff Kane on lead guitar, Bill Davis on Bass, and Matt Shelley on drums. The Dirty Hands recorded their first CD, Goodbye Game, in 2008 with guest artists Sylvia Juncosa and Julie Wolf. In the summer of 2009, Sean released The Drug of Memory, a compilation covering nearly thirty years of recorded work. First Cold Press released a third Denim TV album, “Denim TV – Live at Club Graffiti – 5/30/85″, featuring several previously unreleased songs. In 2012, Sean released Future Harvest, a co-produced with his good friend and musical partner Jeff Kane, who passed away shortly after the album was released. A Tribute to Jeffrey Kane digital EP was released at the end of 2013. Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands released latest album, Risk Profile in 2014 and a Deluxe Edition of Risk Profile in 2015. In 2017, Sean released an album of live acoustic performances, It Was Sad Without You There: Acoustic Sessions. Also in 2017, the live band of Greg Lisher of Camper Van Beethoven on guitar; Kevin Thomas White of Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express on Bass, and long-time co-producer/engineer Matt Boudreau on drums released a new four-song EP, Mistakes. An additional track recorded at the same sessions, "Old Black Cloud" was released as a digital single. A promotional video of the track "Sleeping With Me" from the Mistakes EP was also released. In 2019, Sean O'Brien and His Dirty Hands released "My Colors Dark".

In 2020, Phono Select Records (in partnership with First Cold Press) reissued on vinyl an LP of all studio tracks by the Meantime, “Two For One”. This LP repeated the digital 11 Meantime tracks previously released on the Sean O’Brien compilation CD The Drug of Memory from 2009. In 2021, First Cold Press will release a 4 track EP of cover versions by Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands. The “Trouble Boys EP” features the songs by Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and Rockpile, Mickey Jupp and John Fogerty. On November 1, 2021, First Cold Press released a Live LP - Meantime - Live at Berkeley Square – November 1981 in digital and vinyl formats.

On March 1, 2022, First Cold Press released the ninth solo LP by Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands, “Negative and Clear”. This LP features performances from some world-class musicians such as: Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty Band); Prairie Prince (Tubes, XTC), Chris von Sneidern, Damon Wood (Engine 88), Kevin Thomas White (Chuck Prophet and The Mission Express), Robert John Tucker (Jason Newsted Band), and Ihor Pacholuk (Denim TV) among others. Mastering by Justin Perkins of Mystery Room Mastering. “Negative and Clear” has been submitted for Grammy consideration in the categories: Best Alternative Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. The LP was also listed on Jack Rabid’s (of The Big Takeover magazine) Picks, 2022’s 200 Best Albums.

On January 1, 2023, First Cold Press released the tenth solo LP by Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands, “On The Path: Demos, Rehearsals, and Live Performances”. 25 tracks. Several titles previously unreleased. Digital only release. This album features performances by: Prairie Prince, Chris von Sneidern, Kevin Thomas White, Greg Lisher, Matt Boudreau, Laura Benitez, Russ Tolman, Manfred Hofer, Joshua Raoul Brody, Bill Davis, Jeff Kane, Matt Shelley, and David Wenger. The recordings highlight a superb job of mastering by Jessica Thompson. Also in 2023, First Cold Press released a single in digital and limited edition 7” 45 rpm vinyl by Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands: Make It Up/My Colors Dark (Different Shade). The LP and single were listed on Jack Rabid’s (of The Big Takeover magazine) Picks, 2023’s 200 Best Albums, Singles and Reissues.

On January 1, 2024, First Cold Press released the eleventh solo LP by Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands - “The Program Is Morally Good”, recorded at Boxer Lodge. Release date - January 1, 2024. You can stream the album here:

https://promo.theorchard.com/HORZxrQxC8VYsMqRtCJC

For more information about at Boxer Lodge in Angwin, CA, please see the link below:

https://www.boxerlodge.com/

Also coming in 2024, a reissue series for Sean’s mid-80s early 90s band DENIM TV will begin. Two titles will be released that will cover both of band’s studio LPs, as well as all known session outtakes re-mixed and remastered. Audio restoration by Jessica Thompson and mastering by Justin Perkins of Mystery Room Mastering. Remixes by Matt Boudreau of all Matt Wallace and Malcolm Fife sessions will first be collected on “Skull Behind The Face: Rarities, Remasters and Remixes”, which compiles all tracks from the first eponymous LP as well many previously unreleased tracks remixed from original analog multi-track tapes. 24 tracks on digital release and 22 will be featured on a CD release. More details to follow. Also thanks to Tom Hofer for graphic assistance.

You can stream the compilation here:

https://promo.theorchard.com/siIo9HWkuyJ2uikKXbFU

Also arriving in 2024 is a new remastering of DENIM TV’s second LP, “Starving Rich”, which will feature four outtake tracks in addition to the 12 tracks on the original release from 1990. Mixed by Malcolm Fife. Audio restoration by Jessica Thompson and a new mastering by Justin Perkins of Mystery Room Mastering. A CD release for this album is also planned. You can stream the remastered version here:

https://promo.theorchard.com/R3aHroROpmlqBTuJGWk0

Both LPs were listed on Jack Rabid’s (of The Big Takeover magazine) Picks, 2023’s 200 Best Albums, Singles and Reissues.

A new LP from Sean O’Brien And His Dirty Hands is planned for 2025. On April 1, 2024, the first single from the LP was released. “The Wreckage’ marks the first time a track has been released in both stereo and Spatial Audio with ATMOS formats. ATMOS track available for download through AvidPlay. Streaming on most platforms as well. Thanks to Matt Boudreau and Justin Perkins for mixing and mastering. Personnel on this tune: Damon Wood, Dave Zirbel, Kevin Thomas White and Rick Munoz. Thanks to Jenny Stovell for graphic assistance. First single (one more to follow) in advance of LP coming in 2025, which will be called “Last Hello “.

All physical product available here:

https://seanobrienandhisdirtyhands.bandcamp.com/

Also available from First Cold Press and most digital services:

SEAN O’BRIEN AND HIS DIRTY HANDS

The Wreckage - Digital Single - Stereo and Spatial Audio with ATMOS formats (2024)

The Program Is Morally Good (2024)

Make It Up/My Colors Dark (Different Shade) - Single (2023)

On The Path: Demos, Rehearsals and Live Performances (2023)

Negative and Clear (2022)

Trouble Boys EP (2021)

My Colors Dark (2019)

Kingdom Of Love/Click On - Digital single (2019)

Old Black Cloud - Digital single (2017)

It Was Sad Without You There (Acoustic Sessions) (2017)

Mistakes EP (2017)

A Tribute to Jeff Kane – Digital single (2015)

Risk Profile (2014)

Future Harvest (2012)

The Drug of Memory (2009)

Goodbye Game (2008)

Seed Of Mayhem (2006)

Too Personal (2004)

COLLABORATIONS

THE MISTAKEN

SANTA FE - Triple X Records - 51126-2 (1993). Songs by Gregg Turner, except “Sure It’s Good” by Sean O’Brien. O’Brien is also co-author of opening instrumental, “Pale White Surfer”.

DENIM TV