Hold onto your hats, Ween fans—there’s no reunion in sight (yet), but something almost as exciting is on the horizon. The band has just unveiled plans for a jaw-dropping archival release for Record Store Day 2026, and it’s not your average reissue. The Europe “90” 3LP box set is a treasure trove of long-lost studio sessions and a live recording that guitarist Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo boldly declares “the best Ween show of all-time.” But here’s where it gets controversial: is this enough to satisfy fans craving a full-fledged reunion, or just a tease? Let’s dive in.
Scheduled for release on April 18th, WeenEurope “90” takes us back to a pivotal moment in the band’s history. The studio sessions were recorded in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Christmas Day 1990, during Dean and Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman’s European tour as a duo. At the time, they were promoting their debut album, GodWeenSatan: The Oneness, and living in their tour manager Rene De Wever’s apartment from September 1990 to March 1991. As Deaner nostalgically recalled in 2018, they’d “jump off to other countries in his Renault Le Car with our tape deck, playing gigs for gas and shelter—just the three of us.”
The studio recordings include never-before-released tracks like “Push the Lil’ Daises,” their surprise MTV hit, alongside fan favorites “Cover it with Gas and Set it on Fire,” “Albino Sunburn Girl,” and “I Wuz Nothin'.” While the latter never made it onto an official release, it became a live staple, even making a surprise return during the band’s 2021 Las Vegas run—though with Dean taking over vocal duties from Gene. And this is the part most people miss: these tracks offer a raw, unfiltered glimpse into Ween’s early days, before the fame and the polish.
Now, onto the live component: LPs two and three feature The Reality of Brown: Live in Basel. Here’s the kicker—the show started with zero audience members, ending with a grand total of five attendees. When Mickey shared an audio recording of the show in 2018, he aptly titled it, “this is the reality of Brown.” His full statement is both hilarious and heartbreaking:
“So……if you think you’re down with the brown….old school……this is the reality of Brown. We rolled into Basel, Switzerland, while promoting our first album by touring Europe from September 1990 to March 1991. We lived in our tour manager’s apartment (Rene De Wever) in Eindhoven, Holland for 6 MONTHS and would jump off to other countries in his Renault Le Car with our tape deck and play gigs for gas and shelter, the three of us. This is us in Basel, Switzerland in front of NO PEOPLE (except Rene), until the end of the gig when we had 5 people. Our sound guy was named Pidah, and this is the best Ween show of all time. On my birthday I GIVE IT TO YOU. I’ve submitted this for consideration as a live Ween record and no one has ever gotten back to me—so here it is…………..I humbly lay this at your feet………listen up and learn what Brown can do for you…..this is pure Ween……..”
Eight years later, Mickey’s wish for an official release of this show has finally come true. While it’s not the reunion announcement fans were hoping for—especially after a cryptic social media post featuring the band’s iconic Boognish symbol and the caption “Is this thing on, mang?”—it’s a reminder that Deaner remains active in the Weeniverse. However, the band’s decision to “step away from the stage for the foreseeable future” in August 2024, citing concerns for Dean’s mental health, leaves fans wondering: will we ever see them together again?
Adding to the excitement, Gener will also reissue his 2014 solo album, FREEMAN, on an exclusive orange and purple split-color pressing. Meanwhile, Deaner has been spotted enjoying life offstage, fishing for striped bass off the coast of New Jersey and collaborating with his son Michael Melchiondo (aka Bugger). In a heartwarming twist, Deaner and Gener’s kids even played a show together, honoring their fathers with a Ween deep cut—though they were quick to clarify, “WE ARE NOT WEEN.”
So, here’s the big question: Is this archival release a fitting tribute to Ween’s legacy, or just a bittersweet reminder of what we’re missing? Let us know in the comments—and long live Ween, mang.
