Ween would expand to five members and perform together until May 2012 when Freeman abruptly quit the band due to his want to move forward with a solo career, as well as his desire to remain sober.

Freeman and Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class in 1984, in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where they both grew up.

[4] That same month, Partisan Records released Freeman's debut solo LP, Marvelous Clouds, a collection of Rod McKuen cover songs produced by Ben Vaughn.

The band featured, among others, Paul Green and Dan Hickey of They Might Be Giants and performed shows in Woodstock and Brooklyn.

[7]Freeman also used the Gene Ween name when he joined Umphrey's McGee onstage during their second set at the May 22, 2015 Summer Camp Music Festival.

Jokingly referring to their collaboration as Godboner, Freeman and Umphrey's McGee performed a set of Ween covers, as well as "The Stranger" by Billy Joel.

[8] Ween continued to perform and tour until going on an indefinite hiatus in August 2024, citing Melchiondo's mental health as a reason.

[18][19] He spoke openly and in detail about his personal life, drug use, and time spent in Ween on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast (episode 309).