Les Claypool Joins The Dean Ween Group In Ohio

Last night Nelson Ledges Quarry Park hosted a concert featuring openers The Dean Ween Group and The Claypool Lennon Delirium at the outdoor venue in Garrettsville, Ohio. While failing health prevented keyboardist Bernie Worrell from appearing with the DWG, the band fronted by Ween guitarist Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo was instead joined by regular collaborator Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton on guitar throughout the set and were also joined by Les Claypool for a take on a Ween favorite.

As explained in a message posted by Deaner, Parliament-Funkadelic veteran guitarist Hampton was brought on board in the hopes his former band mate Worrell would be able to perform P-Funk classics with the group. With the keyboardist unable to attend, the set became a full-on tribute to Worrell, with the decision to play in his honor described ahead of time by Melchiondo like this:

we made our setlist and added kidd funkadelic michael hampton to the live version of DWG (even tho he’s been a studio member awhile, ) to be a killer fuckin band if bernie wanted to sit in. now it’s a straight up tribute to bernie–we’ve all played with him and have known him for years, but nothing like mike hampton’s years in the trenches doing god’s work recording the soundtracks to our lives with dr. woo.

so bernie sadly won’t make it to the gig, but we customized our set and are sticking with it regardless because the fonk must go on. if you come tomorrow you’re gonna be in for a once in a lifetime treat. we are rehearsed to a razor’s deadly edge and the music is SO STRONG that it’s bigger than us collectively as a band of bad-asses. expect transcendence with a joyous and heavy groove. this one’s for you dr. woo.

Dean Ween and his band wound up covering Funkadelic’s “Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)” and “Red Hot Mama.” The opening set also featured a special guest in the form of Les Claypool who again sat in with the band for a take on Ween’s “The Mollusk.” Claypool had previously sat-in on the song with DWG last October in California. Check out a short video clip of the collaboration captured by audience member thegaz and photos taken from last night’s concert below:

Setlist (via August Forming)

Set: Dickey Betts, Pandy Fackler, *Garry, *%The Mollusk, *Mercedes Benz, *Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers), *Red Hot Mama

• * with Michael Hampton (Guitar)
• % with Les Claypool (Bass/Vocals)