Heart Separation: Ann Wilson’s Husband Sentenced For Assaulting Nancy’s Sons
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Nancy Wilson and Ann Wilson in happier times
When Ann Wilson announced on January 10, 2017, that she was doing a solo tour, it was attributed to a break from Heart, which she and her sister Nancy have fronted since the early 1970s. Similarly, the younger sibling announced on Jan. 20 that she had started a Heart spin-off band called Roadcase Royale with several current Heart members. Nancy Wilson was quick to point out: “Roadcase Royale is a side project and not a replacement for Heart.”
Turns out there was a lot more to the sisters’ separate paths in 2017. On April 14, it was revealed that Ann Wilson’s husband, Dean Wetter, received a suspended sentence for allegedly choking Nancy’s 16-year-old twin sons backstage at an Aug. 26, 2016, Heart concert in Auburn, Wash. Wetters had pleaded guilty on March 9 to two counts of fourth-degree assault. His plea agreement with the court includes two years of probation, counseling and no contact with his nephews. Wetter will not have to serve jail time.
A report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer indicated that, while backstage at the August 2016 concert, the twins received permission from Wetter to look at his and Ann Wilson’s new tour bus. When they failed to heed his warning to ensure that they properly shut the bus door, Wetter “reportedly punched [one of the twins] in the head and grabbed him by the throat. The other twin exited the bus and tried to intervene, but Wetter then grabbed him by the throat to the point that he couldn’t breathe.”
Police responded to the scene and Wetter was taken into custody. While the April 14 sentence closes the legal issues for now, it will apparently require more to mend the family squabble. Nancy Wilson had demanded that Wetter receive counseling before she would even consider reuniting Heart.
Ann Wilson wed Wetter on April 25, 2015.
EXCLUSIVE: Congrats to Ann Wilson of @officialheart, who tied the knot on Saturday! Photos: http://t.co/W01UZZv4b2 pic.twitter.com/1tf39QUyyq
— People Magazine (@people) April 28, 2015
Last month (March 27), Ann Wilson announced new dates of her solo tour that ran into July.
Besides Nancy Wilson, Roadcase Royale includes current Heart members Chris Joyner (keyboards), Dan Rothchild (bass) and Ben Smith (drums). It also features R&B singer Liv Warfield, formerly of Prince’s band, and her lead guitarist and musical director Ryan Waters.
Roadcase Royale
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThis guy looks creepy!
I love Ann, but COME ON!! He is a creepy ugly, abusive fuck. If i had her money and beauty i would tell him to “Hit the road.” I actually cannot believe she is staying with a man that is abusive. Counseling or no, that behavior tends to escalate. Lawd help them both.
He needed to be forced into A.A. Treatment program. Pretty basic…
Two bad one ugly, abusive man has to come between nancy and Ann Wilson, Ann should see right thru that guy, hope it won’t be her someday!!!!!!