Ween | |
|---|---|
 Ween performing in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New Hope, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels |
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| Members | Gene Ween Dean Ween Dave Dreiwitz Claude Coleman Jr. Glenn McClelland |
| Past members | Andrew Weiss |
| Website | ween |
Ween is an American rock band from New Hope, Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 by Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean. Generally categorized as an alternative rock band, the band are known for their irreverent, highly eclectic catalog of songs inspired by funk, soul, country, gospel, prog, psychedelia, R&B, heavy metal, and punk rock.
Ween self-released several cassette albums from their formation until 1989. Afterward, they put out three officially-released lo-fi albums: GodWeenSatan: The Oneness (1990); The Pod (1991); and Pure Guava (1992). For Pure Guava, the band signed with major label Elektra Records. The album spawned the single "Push th' Little Daisies", which was a chart hit in Australia and the United States. Under Elektra, the band released four professionally-recorded albums: Chocolate and Cheese (1994); 12 Golden Country Greats (1996); The Mollusk (1997); and White Pepper (2000). They later returned to independent labels for their albums Quebec (2003) and La Cucaracha (2007). After a 28-year run, Freeman quit the band in 2012, citing the need to focus on his alcohol and drug addiction issues. Ween reformed in late 2015 and toured extensively without plans to record new material,[1][2] but later entered an indefinite hiatus in 2024 citing Melchiondo's mental health as a reason.[3]
For their first ten years of existence, Ween performed live as a duo backed by a Digital Audio Tape, sometimes playing with on and off bassist Chris Williams, better known by his stage name Mean Ween. With the release of Chocolate and Cheese, they stopped playing with on and off bassist Chris Williams, and expanded to a four-piece act for every show, later adding a fifth member as well. Their live members include Claude Coleman Jr., Dave Dreiwitz, and Glenn McClelland. Ween also collaborated extensively with Andrew Weiss, who joined the band as a bassist in 1989 and also produced five of their nine studio albums. Despite never receiving much mainstream recognition, Ween developed a large, devoted cult following and garnered critical acclaim.[4]
- ^ Ween Tour Dates, Ween.com, retrieved December 9, 2015
- ^ Sullivan, Jim (January 10, 2017). "With The Dean Ween Group, Mickey Melchiondo Continues Creating Jarring Quilts Of Sound". Wbur.org. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ @weeninfo (August 29, 2024). "It is with sincere regret and heavy hearts that Ween must make the decision to step away from the stage for the foreseeable future" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Ingram, Laynce. "Band Ween and its cult-like following to The Lyric Theatre provide an insider's look at who a musician's true fans are". The DM Online. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.