Dogstar (band)

Dogstar is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. They were initially active from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, during which time the band found moderate success but garnered significant media attention due to the band's bassist being Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves.

Dogstar
Dogstar in 2023 (from left to right): Robert Mailhouse, Bret Domrose, and Keanu Reeves
Dogstar in 2023 (from left to right): Robert Mailhouse, Bret Domrose, and Keanu Reeves
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
Genres
Years active
  • 1991–2002
  • 2023–present
Labels
  • Zoo
  • Ultimatum Music
  • Dillon Street
Members
Past members
  • Gregg Miller
Websitewww.dogstarofficial.com

The band officially reformed in May 2023 for a performance at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival. Their latest album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, was released October 6, 2023.

Inception and name origin

The genesis of Dogstar was a chance encounter between Robert Mailhouse and Keanu Reeves in a supermarket in 1991. Mailhouse was wearing a Detroit Red Wings hockey sweater, and Reeves (an avid hockey fan and a keen player of the sport) asked if Mailhouse needed a goalie. As the two men formed a friendship, they began jamming together, and were joined by Gregg Miller as the original lead guitarist and singer in 1992. Reeves said that one thing led to another in the band's history:

You know, we started in a garage, and then you end up starting to write songs, and then you're like "Let's go out and play them!", and then you're like "Let's go on tour!", and then...you're playing

— Keanu Reeves in an interview with Jimmy Fallon[1]

The band originally called themselves Small Fecal Matter, and then BFS (Big Fucking Shit, or Big Fucking Sound), before settling on Dogstar, after Mailhouse found the name in the book Sexus, written by Henry Miller.[2][3]

Band history

1994–1999: Quattro Formaggi, Our Little Visionary and live performances

Dogstar was joined by Bret Domrose as an additional vocalist and guitarist in 1994.[4] One year later, the band toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Asia, and opened for David Bowie at his 1995 Hollywood Palladium gig,[5] where they covered a song by Pink Floyd, as well as for Bon Jovi on their 1995 These Days – Crossroads Tour in Australia and New Zealand.[6] However, Miller left the band at the end of the tour. With Quattro Formaggi, they released their first sound carrier in the form of a four-track EP in 1996, via Zoo Entertainment, and followed this up with their debut album, Our Little Visionary, which was only distributed in Japan, even though Dogstar already had a worldwide fanbase at the time.[7] The band also performed at the Zee Cine Awards in India, the 1996 Zwemdokrock Festival in Lummen, Belgium,[8] and the 1999 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, Somerset, England.[9]

1999–2002: Happy Ending, breakup and post-Dogstar

Although the band members had other work commitments, a second album, Happy Ending, followed in 1999, produced by Michael Vail Blum and Richie Zito. Domrose called the music on this record more "pop-aggressive" than the band's earlier work. Their last performance of their initial run was in October 2002 in Japan,[10] and the band broke up afterwards. Domrose went on to perform as a solo artist, briefly played guitar with the band Berlin and is currently writing music for film and television.[11] Reeves and Mailhouse later performed together in a band called "becky".[12]

2020–present: Rehearsals and reunion

In the years following the band's final performance in 2002, its three members occasionally met up for jam sessions at Mailhouse's home in Silver Lake. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 led the band members to spend more time together in quarantine. Eight-hour rehearsal days soon turned into songwriting sessions; within two and a half months, the band had written more than enough songs for a new album, which they enlisted Dave Trumfio to produce.[13] In July 2022, a post on Dogstar's Instagram account declared, "We’re back".[13]

DOGSTAR in capital letters, colored with a orange and yellow gradient
Band logo used since 2023

In May 2023, Dogstar gave its first public performance in over 20 years at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival, after an invitation from the festival's organizers. The performance consisted of songs from the band's first two albums, alongside new music from their upcoming third album.[14] Two months later, the band released the single "Everything Turns Around" and announced their third album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, released on October 6, 2023. The band also announced a 25-date tour in North America and Japan in support of the album, beginning August 10 in Hermosa Beach, California.[15][16][17]

Appearances and influences

The band appeared in the 1999 road drama Me and Will, as well as the 2005 comedy-drama Ellie Parker.[18]

Dogstar had several opening acts that went on to become notable, such as Rancid and Weezer (the latter's first gig was opening for Dogstar).[19]

In 2010, singer-songwriter Rain Perry released a song called "Keanuville" about a Dogstar fan she met at one of their concerts.[20]

Band members
The bassist for Dogstar, Keanu Reeves, is better known for his roles in Hollywood films.

Current
  • Keanu Reeves – bass, vocals (1991–2002, 2023–present)[21]
  • Robert Mailhouse – drums, vocals (1991–2002, 2023–present)[4][16]
  • Bret Domrose – lead guitar, lead vocals (1995–2002, 2023–present), backing guitar and vocals (1994–1995)[4][16]

Former
  • Gregg Miller – lead guitar, lead vocals (1991–1995)[4]

Discography

Albums

EPs
  • Quattro Formaggi (1996, Zoo Entertainment)

Other

References
  1. The Letterman chronologicals (July 22, 2017), Keanu Reeves Band " Dogstar " with Jimmy Fallon, archived from the original on June 24, 2023, retrieved May 10, 2018
  2. Crisafulli, Chuck (August 22, 1996). "A Dogged Journey". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  3. Pappademas, Alex (May 3, 2022). "The True Story of Dogstar, Keanu Reeves' Mediocre '90s Rock Band That Toured the World". GQ. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  4. "KEANU REEVES GIVES DOGSTAR ITS CELEBRITY". Orlando Sentinel. July 18, 1995. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  5. "Old school Keanu cool with David Bowie. Dogstar was the opening act for Bowie @ the Hollywood Palladium, 1995. • r/KeanuBeingAwesome". reddit. April 14, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  6. admin_ali (June 28, 2012). "1995–1996: These Days – Crossroad Tour". Bon Jovi Club Italia (in Italian). Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  7. Hilburn, Robert (August 6, 1997). "There's More to Dogstar Than Its Marquee Value". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  8. "Zwemdokrock 1996 Setlists". setlist.fm. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  9. "Live Reviews: The Glastonbury FestivalJune 25–27, 1999". Chart Attack, Richard Beland, June 25–27, 1999.
  10. "keanuvision: Get thee to the DMB-Miho ROCKS!". www.keanuvision.com. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  11. "Welcome". Bret Domrose. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  12. Bonin, Liane (October 17, 2003). "The new band becky = 'Real World' + Keanu". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  13. Lipshutz, Jason (May 26, 2023). "The Return of Dogstar: Why Keanu Reeves' Rock Trio Was Resurrected". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  14. Vaziri, Aidin (May 28, 2023). "Keanu Reeves shakes off nerves at BottleRock for Dogstar's first concert in more than 20 years". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  15. Chuba, Kirsten (July 19, 2023). "Keanu Reeves Reunites With Band Dogstar for First Headlining Show in 20 Years as Group Announces New Album". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  16. "Keanu Reeves's band, Dogstar, announces new album and tour". CBC Music. July 19, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  17. Al-Sardar, Ali. "Dogstar 2023 Tour Dates, Concerts & Tickets". Rock Informer. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  18. Baumgarten, Marjorie (December 9, 2005). "Ellie Parker". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  19. "30 Noteworthy Facts We Bet You Didn't Know About Weezer". BOOMSbeat. September 15, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  20. Schlansky, Evan (November 15, 2010). "Exclusive: Watch Rain Perry's "Keanuville" Video". American Songwriter. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  21. Wang, Jessica (May 28, 2023). "Keanu Reeves plays with band Dogstar for first time in 20 years". EW.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
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