We asked Claude Coleman for more information about his departure from Ween and we received this press release from the drummer:
A multi-instrumentalist best known for his chameleon-like and acrobatic drumming skills for cult gods Ween for over the last fifteen years, NJ resident Claude Coleman Jr is announcing for the first time in his long tenure with the group, an indefinite leave of absence.
Citing “a myriad of reasons” behind the departure, his plans are to focus on the new Amandla record and subsequent touring, as well as to enable him the opportunity to work and perform with other groups and artists.
“I’ll always drum with Gene and Dean until the apocalypse. I’m just re-prioritizing my life a bit, turning my focus towards writing and performing with Amandla, my health and a major home renovation, as well as trying on other hats.” Coleman said. “Ween is about those songs – that adventurous music. That’ll be here forever and I’ll be there along with it.”
Regarding the mention of his health, Coleman refers to a near-fatal accident that had nearly stripped his life away in 2002. It will be the six year anniversary on August 7.
The accident hospitalized Coleman for 34 days and suffered a shattered pelvis, and severe brain injuries rendering the left side of his body limp. Seven months were spent in intensive rehabilitation, and Coleman suffers from many lingering effects, including chronic pain and the physical stress that this engenders, as well as paralysis and other chronic, nerve-damage issues.
Coleman doubled up his therapy and made it a full-time effort to re-acquire enough of his abilities to get back on stage, and in less than a year Coleman was again back on the bus and on the road with his band mates, and has been touring steadily since then to constant sell-outs everywhere, performing to the largest audiences in Ween’s history.
Recent years have also seen him devoting more of his energy toward his group Amandla, touring behind his 2006 release The Full Catastrophe. On record, Amandla is Coleman on every instrument as well as handling the engineering and production. Live, he can be seen fronting the band on guitar. Coleman is now working on his 3rd record to be released in the fall tentatively titled Sold tha Skins.
We’re excited to hear the new album, and we await word from Ween about what Claude’s “indefinite hiatus” means for the band. Will they take a break, too?
