Keanu Reeves: Not your everyday pop band

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 12, 2000

“The Watcher,” America’s No. 1 film, isn’t the only project where Keanu Reeves shuns top billing.

He’s been doing it for years in the rock band Dogstar.

The star of “The Matrix” is very aware that his status as an actor will overpower anything that his formidable band Dogstar accomplishes.

So two hours before his group’s concert Monday night at the House of Blues, Reeves plays his reserved bassist role to the hilt — politely deferring to singer Bret Domrose and drummer Rob Mailhouse during an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times.

“It would behoove us to tour to promote our new record [`Happy Ending’],” says Reeves, wearing blue jeans, a black shirt with a tiny hole at the neck and a black jacket. “We visit radio stations when we can and do shows when we can. But we can’t [really tour right] now, so we try to do what we can.”

They can’t hit the road for an extended period right now because of Reeves’ film career. He’s currently shooting “Hardball” in Chicago, which leaves only Sundays and Mondays — not exactly the hottest concert nights — to promote his band.

“Hardball” has come under fire recently from Mayor Daley, the media and some parents who are concerned that the film’s child actors are being required to swear a heck of a lot. But Reeves doesn’t bear a grudge against the city, though he says he finds the criticism frustrating — especially since all the children are tutored on set.

“The movie is going well,” he diplomatically says. “The cast, kids and director are all great. I’m really enjoying myself here. I always do.”

Reeves — who filmed “The Watcher” and “Chain Reaction” here — reveals that while the bulk of the next two “Matrix” films will be shot next year in Australia, filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski are discussing shooting parts of the sequels in Chicago.

“They’ve been talking about it and I’d love it,” says Reeves. “Chicago has always been kind to me. And the people who come to our concerts have always been really good.”

Not like D.C., where a woman put her 2-year-old daughter onstage.

“There were about four cities, actually, where people would put their kids onstage,” says Domrose. “They’d say that their babies were getting smashed and would want security to take the kids backstage, so that they would have an excuse to come backstage. Lame.”

Because Reeves’ acting career keeps him on location so often, Domrose and Mailhouse often have to travel to wherever their bassist is working. When Reeves was shooting “The Matrix” in Australia, Reeves showed Domrose some of the “movie kung fu” he had learned from his fight choreographers.

“He threw me into a Christmas tree!” Domrose says, laughing. “That was after he jumped on my chest. I suppose it serves me right. I started it.”

Noshing on a plate of ribs, Mailhouse adds, “I watched. I’m just the drummer. I don’t fight.”

Maybe not physically. But during their five-year career, the musicians have had to fight the perception that Dogstar is just another sideline vanity project for a bored movie star. But as their musicianship improved, the group has honed a pop-influenced rock sound that is not unlike the songs being cranked out by Third Eye Blind, Gas Giants and Matchbox 20.

“I like being the underdog,” says Mailhouse. “It works for us, because there is no pressure on us whatsoever.”

They don’t even mind the occasional unruly crowd, such as the English “fans” who eyed them suspiciously at the Glastonbury Festival. Rumor had it that they were pelted with shoes.

“No, that’s false,” says Reeves. “There were a couple of wasted people out front but I kind of dug it. It was funny. They were like, ‘Yeah, there’s this band with the actor in it from America. Let’s throw shit.’ Can’t say that I blame them.”