Ween

Ween is an experimental alternative rock duo formed in New Hope, Pennsylvania in 1984. Founded by singer / guitarist Gene Ween (real name: Aaron Freeman) and Dean Ween (real name: Michael Melchiondo, Jr.), the two formed the band while still in high school. They began recording punk-influenced music on digital audio tapes (DAT) and released several cassette-only releases from 1984 until 1989. They began to play live using recordings from those DAT tapes as their ‘backing band.’ After seeing them live, Twin/Tone Records signed them and they released their first album, GodWeenSatan: The Oneness, in 1990. The album featured recordings taken from their previous cassette releases. The duo moved over to the Shimmy-Disc label for the release of their second album, The Pod, in 1991. To promote the album, Ween undertook their first US and UK tours. Their first two albums and live shows were critically acclaimed, which brought them to the attention of major labels. Signing to Elektra Records, Ween released the album Pure Guava (1992), which included “Push th’ Little Daisies,” an alternative radio hit. The group’s sound was becoming more commercial and the band added members for live shows and studio recordings. Ween’s 1994 album Chocolate and Cheese was their most successful yet, reaching number 10 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. Bringing in some of Nashville’s finest studio musicians, Ween recorded the album 12 Golden Country Greats (1996), which combined their mildly offensive humor with slick country and pop music. The album was a commercial and critical success and was followed by The Mollusk (1997), a prog rock-influenced concept album which became one of their most beloved albums by their fanbase. Their next album, the lush Beatles-influenced White Pepper (2000) was another critical success, although it was their final for Elektra Records. Three years later, Ween released the album Quebec (2003) on Sanctuary Records, which climbed to number 81 on the Billboard 200. Four years later, Ween returned with La Cucaracha (2007), which ended up being their final studio album. While the duo had recorded and performed with their own side projects over the course of their career, they began to focus more on their own solo projects. While the writing was already on the wall, Ween officially split up in 2012. However, they reunited in 2016 and began to play live shows again. In 2024, the band was set to embark on their 40th anniversary tour, but it was cancelled at the last minute in order to ‘preserve Dean Ween’s mental and spiritual well-being’ and the band went on indefinite hiatus.