The Boognish Sets: Ween Announces Indefinite Touring Hiatus

Ween decided to cancel their Chocolate & Cheese 30th Anniversary Concert and stop touring “for the foreseeable future.” The decision was made after “it’s become clear that touring and performing is too taxing on Deaner’s [Ween guitarist Dean Ween] mental health to continue.”

Back in March, Ween scrapped 40th anniversary tour dates planned for the next month in an effort to give Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo time to “preserve [his] mental and spiritual well being.” The band returned to the stage on August 2 in Missoula, Montana and made it through three shows before canceling the rest of the run.

“It is with sincere regret and heavy hearts that Ween must make the decision to step away from the stage for the foreseeable future. This includes next month’s sold-out Chocolate and Cheese 25th Anniversary (sic) show at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia,” wrote Ween in a statement. “Despite three great shows this summer, it’s become clear that touring and performing is too taxing on Deaner’s mental health to continue. As always, we thank you for the love, dedication and ongoing support.”

This new indefinite hiatus marks the second break of Ween’s 40-year career. The band founded by Melchiondo and Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman — which also features bassist Dave Dreiwitz, drummer Claude Coleman Jr. and keyboardist Glenn McClelland — put Ween to bed from 2011 through 2016.

Freeman told Rolling Stone in 2012 that he was “retiring Gene Ween” and a few days later expressed his desire to “end his musical relationship with Ween” which blindsided Melchiondo. Aaron Freeman brought the Gene Ween name back in 2015 and Ween announced they would return in February 2016 later that year.