Gene Ween
| Gene Ween | |
|---|---|
 Gene Ween performing with Ween at The Edmonton Events Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on November 17, 2007. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Aaron Freeman |
| Also known as | Gene Ween, Gener |
| Born | March 17, 1970 |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, mandolin, percussion |
| Associated acts | Ween Gene Ween Band |
| Notable instruments | |
| Gibson Les Paul | |
Gene Ween (b. March 17, 1970) is the stage name of Aaron Freeman, American musician and a founding member of the experimental alternative rock group Ween.[1] Freeman, along with childhood friend Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo), started the group in the mid-1980s. Freeman announced his departure from Ween in 2012, shortly after releasing Marvelous Clouds, his first solo album.
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Career [edit]
Freeman and Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class in 1984, in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where they both grew up. Both of them talked about bands they liked and playing their own music. Soon, they hung out and began jamming, recording most of what they put together. Ween's music slowly progressed from a bedroom-style recording project, eventually signing to a major record label and transformed into a full live band. In May 2012, Freeman announced his departure from Ween.[2]
Even before his departure from Ween, Freeman had maintained a solo career. He has performed solo concerts with artists such as Jon Anderson of Yes. Around 2008, Freeman launched the Gene Ween Band,[3] where he plays alongside Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz, and with guitarist Scott Metzger and drummer Joe Russo, among others. In 2012, he released Marvelous Clouds, his first solo album under the name Aaron Freeman. The album is composed entirely of cover versions of Rod McKuen songs.[4]
Freeman has been public with his disdain of the jam band music scene, which Ween is associated with after playing several large festivals; in addition, Phish has often covered the Ween song "Roses Are Free" in concert since 1997. Freeman told Now magazine: "I like Trey [Anastasio] as a person, but as far as the music goes, all that jam band shit makes me want to puke. I’m just not that kind of dude, and I don’t think Mickey is either."[5]
Personal life [edit]
Aaron Freeman lives with his wife Leah Ben-Ari and their son, born in 2005, in Lambertville, New Jersey.[6]
Freeman has acknowledged a history of drug use,[1][5] but does not often divulge specifics.
Selected discography [edit]
- With Ween
- GodWeenSatan: The Oneness (1990)
- The Pod (1991)
- Pure Guava (1992)
- Chocolate and Cheese (1994)
- 12 Golden Country Greats (1996)
- The Mollusk (1997)
- White Pepper (2000)
- Quebec (2003)
- Shinola, Vol. 1 (2005)
- The Friends EP (2007)
- La Cucaracha (2007)
- With Z-Rock Hawaii
- Z-Rock Hawaii (1997)
- Solo work
- Synthetic Socks (1987)
- Marvelous Clouds (2012) (released as Aaron Freeman)
References [edit]
- ^ a b IMDB bio page: "IMDB retrieved 20th Jan 2010 Gene Ween."
- ^ "Aaron Freeman Closes the Book on Ween". rollingstone.com. 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
- ^ Prefix article: "Gene Ween is OK."
- ^ http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/05/listening-booth-geen-weens-solo-debut.html
- ^ a b NOW Magazine article: "Q&A: Gene Ween of Ween".
- ^ "Gene Ween rings in Christmas at New Hope's God Save the Qweens". buckslocalnews.com. 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
External links [edit]
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