Ween
1450946
225028403
2008-07-11T15:14:21Z
Bogdin
7460240
/* Past members */ add credits
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| Background = group_or_band
| Name = Ween
| Img = Ween in Edmonton Alberta.jpg
| Img_capt = Ween live in Edmonton, November 2007
| Years_active = 1984–present
| Genre = [[Alternative rock|Alternative Rock]]<br />[[Experimental rock|Experimental Rock]]<br />[[Neo-psychedelia|Neo-Psychedelia]]<br />[[Lo-fi music|Lo-Fi]]
| Origin = [[New Hope, Pennsylvania]]
| Label = [[Elektra Records|Elektra]], [[Chocodog Records|Chocodog]], [[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]]
| Current_members = [[Dean Ween]]<br />[[Gene Ween]]<br />[[Dave Dreiwitz]]<br />[[Claude Coleman Jr.]]<br />[[Glenn McClelland]]
| Associated_acts =
| URL = [http://ween.com ween.com]
}}
'''Ween''' is an [[alternative rock]] group formed in 1984 in [[New Hope, Pennsylvania]] when Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class.<ref name="typingclass">The class was taught in the basement of the old section of New Hope-Solebury High School by teacher Barbara Slack. At the time, the electronic typewriters were considered state of the art; they were replaced by IBM x86s within 2 years.</ref> The pair became known respectively as [[Gene Ween|Gene]] and [[Dean Ween]]. The name Ween was a cross between the words "wuss" and "peen".<ref>In a November 25, 2007 radio interview on the NPR show ''All Things Considered'', Aaron Freeman's explanation for the band's name was that "~~~~it was a cross between 'wuss' and 'peen', if I remember correctly, and at 15 years old it seemed perfect." The duo went on to say, "We never thought we'd have to answer for that name at 37 years old."</ref>Thousands of home recordings later, Ween collected a large underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in [[pop music]].
==Early years==
Their earliest home recordings were [[anarchy (word)|anarchic]] and free-spirited, drawing on influences as far-reaching as [[Syd Barrett]], [[The Beatles]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Butthole Surfers]], [[The Residents]] and the lo-fi punk movement. They self-released 6 cassettes in the late eighties; ''Mrs. Slack'', ''[[The Crucial Squeegie Lip]]'', ''[[Axis: Bold As Boognish]]'', ''[[Erica Peterson's Flaming Crib Death]]'', ''[[The Live Brain Wedgie/WAD]]'', and ''[[Prime 5]]''. Around this time, Gene also released his own tape, ''[[Synthetic Socks]]'', which featured Dean on a few songs. Ween was often compared in their early years to other offbeat artists such as [[Frank Zappa]] and [[Tom Waits]] though they eschewed such comparisons. Ween's public debut was a "[[Purple Haze]]" cover closing a 1987 talent show; the piece featured a solo, stand-up, acoustic bass and Lauren "Rainbow" Fihe, from Elwood, IN, on drums.
==Major releases==
Ween was signed to [[Twin/Tone Records]] in 1989 and released their first album ''[[GodWeenSatan: The Oneness]]'' in the [[1990|following year]], a 26-track [[smorgasbord]] of wild eclecticism. 1991's ''[[The Pod]]'' became a fast fan favorite, as the duo's use of [[drum machine]]s, pitch-tweaked guitars and vocals and drug-laced humor became a trademark part of their sound. ''[[The Pod]]'', according to Ween-lore, was written under the influence of [[Scotchgard]], but this was later refuted by Gene and Dean themselves as being "the most slime-bag thing we could think of." The contraption on the album cover is not a Scotchgard [[inhalant|inhalation]] device, but a [[bong]]-like device used to send [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] directly to the brain by use of [[nitrous oxide]], which was said to leave the user intoxicated for days, but nauseated. The cover of ''[[The Pod]]'' used the cover of the 1975 [[Leonard Cohen]] album, ''[[The Best of Leonard Cohen]]'', but with the head of [[Mean Ween]] (sometime bassist Chris Williams) wearing the mask, pasted onto that of Cohen.
''[[Pure Guava]]'', the first of a series of releases on the [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] label, featured their highest charting single, "Push Th' Little Daisies" (1992) which gained them media and [[MTV]] attention, as the video was a highlighted target on [[MTV]]'s ''[[Beavis & Butt-head]]''. ''[[Chocolate and Cheese]]'' followed in 1994, heralding 70s pop/rock and soul influenced tracks such as "Freedom of '76" and "Voodoo Lady". The "Freedom of '76" music video was directed by [[Spike Jonze]]. At this time, Ween began to expand their live and studio line-up, providing both a crisper production sound in the studio and an easier live setup (up until this time, Ween had been using [[Digital Audio Tape|DAT tapes]] to provide backings for their songs).
Ween turned to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] [[studio musician]]s for the recording of the authentically-spirited ''[[12 Golden Country Greats]]'' (1996) which only contained ten tracks. There are two theories regarding the title of the album. The first is that it refers to the dozen veteran Nashville studio musicians who played on the album. The second is that the band did indeed record twelve songs during the demo sessions for the album, but upon the removal of the tracks "I Got No Darkside" and "So Long, Jerry" (the latter of which was a B-side on the "Piss Up a Rope" single) they decided not to rename it.
The nautically-themed ''[[The Mollusk]]'' followed in 1997, demonstrating Ween's satirization, deconstruction, and appreciative mastery of genres, including 1960's Brit-pop, [[Sea shanty|sea shanties]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[show tunes]], and especially [[progressive rock]]. Fans, critics and the band themselves has since considered the album to be their definite opus. The band's desire to pursue alternate forms of media led to the [[MP3]]-only release ''[[Craters of the Sac]]'' (1999), presented by Dean for online download and free trade. [[Elektra Records]] released a live compilation entitled ''[[Paintin' The Town Brown: Ween Live 1990-1998]]'' in 1999, followed by ''[[White Pepper]]'' (2000), their [[pop music|pop]]-themed album and final studio set for Elektra. The track "Even If You Don't" was made into a music video directed by the creators of ''[[South Park]]'', [[Trey Parker]] and [[Matt Stone]]. Shortly after ''White Pepper'' Ween started the internet radiostation [http://www.weenradio.com WeenRadio], which was awarded 3rd best internet music site by [[Rolling Stone]].<ref name="rollingstone1">David Kushner, [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ween/articles/story/5919334/the_top_ten_best_digital_music_entities_of_2000 The Top Ten Best Digital Music Entities of 2000], ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[December 28]] [[2000]], retrieved [[October 2]] [[2007]].</ref>
Ween also formed their own label at this time, [[Chocodog Records]], which oversaw the release of several self-produced live sets. The aforementioned ''Paintin' the Town Brown'', which was compiled and mastered by the band, was meant to be the first Chocodog release. According to Dean Ween, once the album was completed, Elektra realized the sales potential of the CD and denied Ween the right to release it through Chocodog. Later, Ween released the first official Chocodog album, ''[[Live In Toronto Canada|Live in Toronto]]'' (a live recording from the 1996 tour, in which Ween performed with Bobby Ogdin & The Shit Creek Boys). The limited-pressing CD, available exclusively through the band website, became an instant collector's item. Subsequent Chocodog releases (''[[Live at Stubb's]]'' and ''[[All Request Live]]'') were produced in higher volumes to meet demand. In 2005, the label released the first installment of a rarity compilation series entitled ''[[Shinola, Vol. 1|Shinola]]'', and announced plans to re-release the 1987 cassette tape by Gene, ''Synthetic Socks''.
The two signed to [[Sanctuary Records]] in 2003 and released ''[[Quebec (album)|quebec]]'', their first studio set in 3 years. In 2004, they released ''[[Live in Chicago]]'', a DVD and CD set that compiled tracks from three energetic live performances.
In February of 2006, Dean and Gene, along with their band, rented an old farmhouse and converted it into a working studio. After writing over 50 songs and recording rough versions through 2006, they picked through them and, with [[Andrew Weiss (guitarist)|Andrew Weiss]] as producer, re-recorded album versions for what would become ''[[The Friends EP|"The Friends EP"]]'' and, the full-length, ''[[La Cucaracha (album)|La Cucaracha]]'' which was released [[October 23]], [[2007]] on [[Rounder Records]].
==Miscellaneous works==
Ween has participated in various outside collaborations over the years. The band joined members of Japanese group [[Boredoms]] to form [[noise rock]] group [[Z-Rock Hawaii]], and Dean is also a member of heavy metal band [[Moistboyz]]. Ween's songs are used in several film soundtracks, including ''[[The X-Files: The Album|The X-Files]]'', ''[[Beautiful Girls]]'', ''[[Dude, Where's My Car?]]'' and ''[[Road Trip]]'' and ''[[Herr Lehmann]]'', and on television they have contributed to ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' ('Ocean Man' and a song about tying shoes "Loop de Loop") and ''[[Grounded for Life]]'' (the theme song). The team recorded ''[[The Shot Heard 'Round the World]]'' for a 1996 tribute album of classic ''[[School House Rock]]'' ditties with the likes of [[Better than Ezra]], [[Blind Melon]], and [[Moby]]. Ween had been asked to write a theme song for [[Greg the Bunny]] which was rejected.
Also, "Piss up a Rope" can be heard playing in the garage near the start of the movie "U-Turn".
The band has also made several on-screen appearances, including performing on ''[[The Late Show with David Letterman|Letterman]]'', on MTV's ''[[Oddville]]'', in puppet form on ''[[Crank Yankers]]'', as part of ''[[Chef Aid]]'' in ''[[South Park]]'', and on film as themselves in ''[[It's Pat]]''.
Ween has had their music used for several snowboard video parts, including the notable use of "Johnny on the Spot" during snowboarding legend Peter Line's part in the 2000 Mack Dawg film, "The Resistance".
Dean made significant contributions to two projects by his friend [[Joshua Homme|Josh Homme]]: [[The Desert Sessions]] and [[Queens of the Stone Age]]. On the critically successful 2002 Homme album ''[[Songs for the Deaf]]'', Dean played guitar on "Mosquito Song", "Gonna Leave You", and "Six Shooter".
In 2002, the [[advertising agency]] for Pizza Hut approached the duo to record a promotional [[jingle]], which resulted in a 30-second recording of "Where'd the Cheese Go?". It epitomized Ween-style irreverence but did not appeal to the agency, and Pizza Hut rejected several versions of the song outright. True to form (and somewhat indignant), Ween rerecorded the same song with new lyrics as "Where'd the Motherfuckin' Cheese Go At?". Both versions are available [http://www.sliceny.com/archives/2004/02/weens_unrelease.php here].
In 2003, "Ocean Man" from ''[[The Mollusk]]'' reappeared on television when Honda used the song in an advertisement for its 2004 Civic Coupe. In 2004, the song appeared during the ending credits of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. "Ocean Man" was also featured on the 2008 [[Skateboarding]] film, "Baker Has a Deathwish".
In 2005, "Oh My Dear (Falling in Love)", from ''[[The Pod]]'', appeared in the film ''[[The Motel (film)|The Motel]]'' as the title song. It also became the DVD Menu song for the film once it was released on DVD.
In 2007, "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" from ''[[Quebec (album)|quebec]]'' was featured as the theme song for the launch of [[internet]] TV channel [[RawVegas.tv]]. "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" was also featured in season 3, episode 14 of the FX television show ''[[The Shield]]''. This song also appeared in the soundtrack of [[Tony Hawks Underground 2]]. Also from the Quebec album, "Captain" was used in the season 2, episode 2 of [[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]].
In 2007 "You Fucked Up" from "[[GodWeenSatan: The Oneness]]" was featured as the last song in the first episode of the third season of [[Weeds (TV series)]]
It has been reported that [[Oliver Stone]], used the song, Little Birdy, off of the album [[Pure Guava]], to drive [[Woody Harrelson]] crazy, during the filming of [[Natural Born Killers]].
In 2007, on the show "Bionic Woman" the character Nathan was shown using a laptop with numerous Ween "Boognish" stickers on it.
==Members==
===Current members===
* [[Dean Ween]], pseudonym for Mickey Melchiondo – lead guitar, vocals, etc.
* [[Gene Ween]], pseudonym for Aaron Freeman – lead vocal, guitar, etc.
* [[Dave Dreiwitz]] – bass
* [[Claude Coleman Jr.]] – drums
* [[Glenn McClelland]] – keyboards
===Past members===
* [[Andrew Weiss|Andrew Weiss (bass)]] – producer, bass, etc.
* [[Jason Fuller]] – keyboards in touring band 2001
* [[Mean Ween]] (Mark Kramer) – bass on "Alone" (''[[The Pod]]''), second vocals on "[[Little Birdy (song)|Little Birdy]]" (''[[Pure Guava]]''), bass (''[[The Mollusk]]''), live
* [[Scott Lowe]] – second vocal and whistling solo on "Don't Get Too Close" (''[[Pure Guava]]''), various backing vocals (''[[Chocolate and Cheese]]''), second vocal on "Rift" (''[[Shinola, Vol. 1]]'')
* [[Pat Frey]] – drums on "Baby Bitch", "Mango Woman" , "I'll Miss You" , "Shot Heard 'Round the World"
* [[Guy Heller]] – vocals on "Flies On My Dick" (''[[Pure Guava]]'')
* [[Bobby Ogdin]] pno, [[Charlie McCoy]] harm/trp/tuba, Pete Wade gtr, Buddy Harman dr, Russ Hicks stl, Bob Wray bs, Kip Paxton bs, Buddy Blackman ban, Buddy Spicher fid, [[Hargus Robbins]] pno, Dennis Solee cln, Gene Chrisman dr - musicians on [[12 Golden Country Greats]]
* [[Bobby Ogdin & The Shit Creek Boys]] - [[Bobby Ogdin]] pno, Danny Parks gtr, Stu Basore stl gtr, Matt Kohut bs, Hank Singer fdl- touring band 1996/[[Live In Toronto Canada]]/[[Paintin' the Town Brown: Ween Live 1990–1998]]
===Organization===
* Management – Greg Frey Management
* Booking – [[High Road Touring]]
* Legal – George Regis
* Business Manager – RZO, LLC
===Instruments===
*[[Dean Ween]]- [[Fender Stratocaster]], Acoustic...
*[[Gene Ween]]- [[Gibson Les Paul]], Acoustic...
*[[Dave Dreiwitz]]- [[Rickenbacker]] Bass
*[[Claude Coleman Jr.]]- [[Drums]]
==Discography==
===Early independent releases (1986–1989)===
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Title</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>[[198X in music|198X]]</td>
<td>''[[Mrs. Slack]]''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1986</td>
<td>''[[The Crucial Squeegie Lip]]''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1987</td>
<td>''[[Axis: Bold As Boognish]]''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1987</td>
<td>''[[Erica Peterson's Flaming Crib Death]]''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1988</td>
<td>''[[The Live Brain Wedgie/WAD]]''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1989</td>
<td>''[[Prime 5]]''</td>
</tr>
</table>
===Studio albums (1990–present)===
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Title</th>
<th align="left">Label</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1990</td>
<td>''[[GodWeenSatan: The Oneness]]''</td>
<td>[[Twin Tone Records|Twin/Tone]], reissued 2001 [[Restless Records|Restless]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1991</td>
<td>''[[The Pod]]''</td>
<td>[[Shimmy Disc]], reissued 1995 [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1992</td>
<td>''[[Pure Guava]]''</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>''[[Chocolate and Cheese|Chocolate & Cheese]]''</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>''[[12 Golden Country Greats]]''</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1997</td>
<td>''[[The Mollusk]]''</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1999</td>
<td>''[[Craters of the Sac]]''</td>
<td>online only [[MP3]] release</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2000</td>
<td>''[[White Pepper]]''</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2003</td>
<td>''[[Quebec (album)|Quebec]]''</td>
<td>[[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2005</td>
<td>''[[Shinola, Vol. 1]]''</td>
<td>[[Chocodog]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2007</td>
<td>''[[La Cucaracha (album)|La Cucaracha]]''</td>
<td>[[Rounder Records]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
===Live albums===
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Title</th>
<th align="left">Label</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1999</td>
<td>''[[Paintin' the Town Brown: Ween Live 1990-1998]]''</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2001</td>
<td>''[[Live In Toronto Canada]]''</td>
<td>[[Chocodog Records|Chocodog]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2002</td>
<td>''[[Live at Stubb's|Live at Stubb's 7/2000]]''</td>
<td>[[Chocodog Records|Chocodog]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2003</td>
<td>''[[All Request Live]]''</td>
<td>[[Chocodog Records|Chocodog]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2004</td>
<td>''[[Live in Chicago (album)|Live in Chicago]]''</td>
<td>[[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
===EPs and singles===
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Title</th>
<th align="left">Label</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1992</td>
<td>[[I'm Fat]]</td>
<td>[[Vital Music]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1992</td>
<td>[[Push th' Little Daisies]]</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records]]</td>
</tr>
<td>1992</td>
<td>[[Sky Cruiser]]</td>
<td>[[Sub Pop]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1992</td>
<td>[[Sky Cruiser]] EP</td>
<td>[[White Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1993</td>
<td>[[Push th' Little Daisies]]</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>[[I Can't Put My Finger On It]] EP</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>[[Freedom of '76]] EP</td>
<td>[[Flying Nun Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>[[Voodoo Lady EP]]</td>
<td>[[Flying Nun Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>[[Piss Up a Rope]]/[[You Were the Fool]] EP</td>
<td>[[Flying Nun Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>[[Piss Up A Rope]]</td>
<td>[[Diesel Only Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1997</td>
<td>[[Mutilated Lips]]</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1997</td>
<td>[[Ocean Man]]</td>
<td>[[Elektra Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2000</td>
<td>[[Even If You Don't]]</td>
<td>[[Mushroom Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2000</td>
<td> [[Stay Forever]] Promo EP</td>
<td>[[Mushroom Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2000</td>
<td>[[Stay Forever]] Red Vinyl EP</td>
<td>[[Mushroom Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2005</td>
<td>[[Monique The Freak]] limited edition one sided etched 12"</td>
<td>[[Chocodog]] / [[Schnitzel Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2005</td>
<td>[[Gabrielle (song)|Gabrielle]] limited edition one sided brown 7"</td>
<td>[[Chocodog]] / [[Schnitzel Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2007</td>
<td>[[The Friends EP]] CD and limited edition picture disc 12"</td>
<td>[[Chocodog]] / [[Schnitzel Records]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
===Appearances===
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Title</th>
<th align="left">Label</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1993</td>
<td>[[En Esch]] - Cheesy</td>
<td>[[TVT Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>[[Frente]] - [[Lonley (EP)]]</td>
<td>[[Mushroom Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1995</td>
<td>[[Kostars]] - Klassics With a K</td>
<td>[[Grand Royal]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1995</td>
<td>[[Used & Recorded by 3RRR Vol.2]]</td>
<td>[[Radio Release]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>[[Ben Vaughn]] - Instrumental Stylings</td>
<td>[[Bar None Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>[[Rising (Yoko Ono album)|Yoko Ono-Rising Mixes]]</td>
<td>[[Capitol Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>[[Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks]]</td>
<td>[[Atlantic Records]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1998</td>
<td>[[Hub]] - Hub</td>
<td>[[SLASH RECORDS]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1999</td>
<td>[[Ben - Wool]]</td>
<td>[[Ben Chatrer]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{portalpar|Philadelphia|Libertybell alone small.jpg}}
* [http://www.ween.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.liveween.com/ Liveween.com]
* {{myspace|ween|Ween}}
* [http://www.ween.net/ Ween.net - fansite]
* [http://www.browntracker.net/ Browntracker - Live Ween BitTorrents]
* [http://weenhub.com/ Weenhub - Ween on DirectConnect]
* [http://www.weenradio.com/ WeenRadio] and [http://groups.google.com/group/weenradio/ WeenRadio forums]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/Ween Ween collection] at the [[Internet Archive]]'s live music archive
* [http://starling.rinet.ru/music/ween.htm Ween album reviews]
* [http://www.nhsd.org/ New Hope-Solebury School District]
* [http://www.cbcradio3.com/issues/2005_01_28/index.cfm?page=100 "Half Joke, All Genius: The Legendary Irreverence of Ween], a [[CBC Radio 3]] live concert session
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ween Ween] at [[Rolling stone|Rolling Stone]]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/vj8c/ Why Wean Weally Suck - by James Young]
{{Ween}}
[[Category:American rock music groups]]
[[Category:Alternative musical groups]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania musical groups]]
[[Category:Philadelphia musical groups]]
[[da:Ween]]
[[de:Ween]]
[[es:Ween]]
[[fr:Ween]]
[[id:Ween]]
[[nl:Ween]]