It's Not Over For Ween Just Yet

Mickey Melchiondo - aka Dean Ween - has spoken out about the break up of Ween, clarifying that it wasn't his idea to stop.

Melchiondo revealed in an interview with Mxdwn.com, "I don't think that you've seen the last of Ween. I wouldn't be surprised if we played before the year is over to be honest with you."

Concerned that the public - and his bandmate Aaron Freeman (aka Gene Ween) - were under the impression he was prioritising his fishing business over his work with the band, Melchiondo decided to set the record straight.

"Well first of all, it's kind of common knowledge that it wasn't my idea to stop Ween. I was very, very, very happy. I was painted somehow, a lot of it was from my partner Aaron, in this light where it was, 'All Mickey wants to do is fish.' And he and I both know that's not the truth," he explains to Mxdwn.com.

"So I really didn't like that. It still bothers me that I was painted in that light, where it was like, he doesn't care about his band. It's just absolute total bullshit. And it was just a cover… I told him as much too and he stopped doing that. 'Don't tell people that. That I'm busy fishing.' I never put anything before Ween."

Announced earlier this year in May, Aaron Freeman revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that he was "retiring Gene Ween" and that this was the end for the duo.

Though no public comment was made at the time by Melchiondo, he explains that he was heart broken by the news of his bandmate. "And the next thing I know I read in Rolling Stone that he said that he was breaking up the band. And I was heartbroken. I still am. It's only been a month. And I also knew, you shouldn't make a decision like that, the day you get out of rehab or the week you get out, and I think he regrets it."

Melchiondo also expressed that the band were in need of a break, however only a hiatus. "It's common knowledge that Aaron just went away for a long stint in rehab. He's trying to get himself sober, and get his life on track, and that extends way deeper than just Ween. And I love Aaron, he's one of my best friends in the world, my whole life. So, I kinda thought, that maybe the band would be on ice for a year, or two, or three, or five, and I was totally cool with that."

In regards to playing again, Melchiondo makes no promises, but is quite suggestive with his response. "I wouldn't promise it or guarantee it. It's entirely up to Aaron. This is a free country. If he doesn't want to do it, I don't want to do it with him. You know what I mean? I'm not gonna force him to do it? But I know that after 28 years as long as the two of us are still alive, there's a Ween."