Dogstar (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dogstar | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Genres | Grunge |
| Labels | Zoo Entertainment |
| Past members | Bret Domrose, Keanu Reeves, Robert Mailhouse |
Dogstar are a former grunge band, best known for their bass guitarist, actor Keanu Reeves.
Contents |
[edit] Members
- Bret Domrose - Vocals, Guitar
- Keanu Reeves - Bass
- Robert Mailhouse - Drums
[edit] History
The genesis of Dogstar was a chance encounter between Reeves and Mailhouse in a supermarket in 1991; Mailhouse was wearing a Detroit Red Wings hockey sweater, and Reeves (a keen player of the sport) asked if Mailhouse needed a goalie. Their shared interest in the sport developed into a friendship. Initially, they began jamming together in private. The band went through several lineups before Domrose joined in 1994. Eventually they decided to play for a live audience; a decision Reeves would later describe as "a huge mistake".
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.
In 1995 they opened for Bon Jovi in Australia and New Zealand and shared a stage with David Bowie.
The group released a four-track EP in early 1996, Quattro Formaggi (distributed by Zoo Entertainment) and followed this up with their debut album, Our Little Visionary, which was only distributed in Japan, but their fanbase was worldwide, and they played to audiences in the U.S., England, Australia and India. Whilst in India, they performed at the equivalent of the Academy Awards in India, the Zee Cine Awards. They also performed at the 1999 Glastonbury Festival.
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 was in October 2002 in Japan, and they have since folded. Reeves and Mailhouse later performed together in band Becky. Reeves left the band because of his working schedule, but he still plays with the band sometimes.
[edit] Notable Performances
1999 Glastonbury Festival - during this performance the band were pelted with beer, fruit and tennis balls.
[edit] Discography
[edit] EPs
- Quattro Formaggi (1996)
[edit] Albums
- Our Little Visionary (1996)
- Happy Ending (1999)
[edit] Compilations
- Influences & Connections - Volume One: Mr. Big (2004)
[edit] Trivia
- Keanu Reeves is a popular actor who has been in many films, most notably The Matrix (1999).
- Drummer Rob Mailhouse is a well-known television actor, and has appeared in popular soap opera, Days of Our Lives, as well as Seinfeld.
- DOGSTAR also appeared in 2 Movies Ellie Parker and Me and Will.
