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Keanu Reeves just might be the most wholesome and likable guy in Hollywood. The actor has had many ups and downs, but thanks to the John Wick franchise, he is back on top, and rolling in the dough.
Many fans are familiar with what Reeves has done off screen, but few actually remember that Reeves was once part of a band called Dogstar. The group wasn’t exactly Led Zeppelin, but they managed to find plenty of fans with their take on rock music.
Recently, Dogstar resurfaced, and they hit the stage at a major music festival in California to get back in touch with major audiences. Let’s take a look at the band, and where things might be going from here!
Dogstar Is Keanu Reeves’ Rock Band
Dogstar was formed in 1991 in Los Angeles, California, and featured Keanu Reeves on bass guitar. Joined by Bret Domrose on vocals and guitar and Rob Mailhouse on drums, this power trio became a force to be reckoned with in the alternative rock scene. With Reeves’ unwavering dedication and genuine passion for music, Dogstar set out to conquer stages worldwide.
The band’s sound was a delightful fusion of alternative rock, grunge, and a touch of indie vibes. Their energetic performances and catchy melodies drew in fans from all walks of life. Dogstar released their debut album, “Our Little Visionary,” in 1996, showcasing their ability to craft melodic, introspective songs that spoke to the heart.
Despite Reeves’ skyrocketing acting career, he remained committed to Dogstar, finding time between movie sets to tour and record with the band. Their music captured the essence of the ’90s alternative rock era, earning them a dedicated following and live gigs that pulsated with an electric atmosphere.
While Dogstar’s rise to fame wasn’t as meteoric as Reeves’ acting career, the band carved out a respected place in the music industry. They released multiple albums, and with Keanu’s star power, they managed to form a following.
In 2002, the band called it a day, and given their lengthy absence, many assumed that Dogstar was done for. In a shocking twist, the band made a triumphant return to the stage recently.
The Band Hit The Stage At BottleRock Festival After More Than 20 Years Away
According to Rolling Stone, “Dogstar, the nineties alt-rock outfit that featured Keanu Reeves on bass, played their first concert in 20 years Saturday as the reunited trio performed at Napa Valley’s BottleRock Festival. The 12-song performance boasted a mix of tracks from Dogstar’s lone two albums — 1996’s Our Little Visionary and 2000’s Happy Ending — as well as songs from the band’s in-the-works third LP, including “Glimmer,” “Flowers” and “Breach.””
The article continued, saying, “The BottleRock gig marked Dogstar’s first show since Oct. 2002, the same year they broke up.”
Again, many people were quite surprised that Dogstar was coming back, especially since Reeves’ career is red-hot once again, thanks largely to his John Wick franchise.
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The actor and bassist, when speaking with Billboard, opened up about getting back to his rock roots.
“We played the catalog songs, and then we can’t help it — we just started writing. I missed playing together, I missed writing together, I missed doing shows together. It’s something I’ve always missed. Once we started to play, and it felt good, and really positive and creative, that’s when it was like, ‘Okay, let’s make this happen,'” said Reeves.
With Dogstar officially back, people cannot help but wonder if the band plans on staying busy.
The Band Plans On Releasing New Music
Good news, Dogstar fans, the boys are here to stick around!
The band is churning out a new record, though details on its release and overall sound are scarce. Nevertheless, the group is confident in what they’re doing.
Said band member, Rob Mailhouse, “[Dave] understood where we were coming from. and worked really well with Bret, layering guitars and doing lots of different sounds and ambient things — things that weren’t just hard rock, in-your-face music, [but] a little more textural.”
Until the new album drops there is no way of knowing exactly what the band will sound like in the recording studio, but they seem to have a clear vision of what they want to do, and will take as long as they need to fully realize their vision.
So far, so good for the guys, and Keanu seems to be enjoying the fact that he’s back with his boys.
“It’s a space that I love. and a space that I tried to protect.”
Dogstar’s future is looking bright, so be on the lookout for new music from Keanu’s old band. They were gone for a while, but they’ve still got it.
