Dave Jerden is an American record producer, engineer and mixer who has worked with artists in all genres including alternative rock, punk rock and metal genres. However, Jerden has stated that he dislikes the term "producer," preferring to refer to himself primarily as an engineer.
Jerden developed his engineering and mixing skills while working at Eldorado Studios in Hollywood, California, beginning in the late 1970s. During this time he worked as an Engineer and Mixer on critically acclaimed and commercially successful records with artists such as Talking Heads, David Byrne, Frank Zappa, Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones and many others.
His career as a producer emerged in the late 1980s, beginning with his work on albums by Jane's Addiction and Alice In Chains. Music Radar stated that these albums went against the prevailing sonic qualities of the day—dominated as it was by "hair metal bands"—and that Jerden had an important hand in shaping such genre-defining sounds. As a Producer and Mixer Jerden also worked with artists such as Fishbone, Anthrax, The Offspring, Social Distortion and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
However, by the mid-1990s, Jerden felt overwhelmed by the trappings of his success and decided to "lie low," working on occasional projects, but primarily experimenting with recording equipment involved in the transition from digital to analogue domains.
Jerden is the co-owner of Tranzformer Studio in Burbank, California.