Ween Announces Breakup After 25 Years

Gene Ween is retiring. Gene, real name Aaron Freeman, recently announced that the experimental rock band Ween was breaking up.

Ween said: “It’s time to move on. I’m retiring Gene Ween.”

The band has been together for 25 years.

Ween told Pitchfork that the band ended on good terms. It was just time to move on. Ween told Pitchfork:

“For me it’s a closed book. In life sometimes, in the universe, you have to close some doors to have others open. There’s no, ‘Goddamn that such and such!’ For me, I’d like to think it’s a door I can close finally.”

According to Musicfortenews.com, Ween was formed in 1984 by Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo (AKA Dean Ween). Freeman said that the breakup was mutual, but Melchiondo apparently wasn’t made aware of the decision. Melchiondo wrote on his Facebook page:

“This is news to me… [That’s] all I can say for now, I guess.”

The band never found sizable commercial success but have had a loyal following over the years. They self-released several albums in the 80s and early 90s before scoring their first, and only, big single, Push th’ Little Daisies in 1992.

The group has continued to tour and release albums over the years. Their last album, La Cucaracha, was released in 2007.

According to the Global Post, Ween fans saw the beginning of the end last year when Freeman had a melt down on stage.

Freeman said:

“I liken it to more of a marriage between two people than a band… And with that comes its ups and downs and its times of intimacy and distance and miscommunication. But as long as we’re still walking on the earth, Ween will still be there.”

Were you a fan of Ween?