Dogstar

Dogstar was formed in 1991 in Los Angeles, California, with its original lineup consisting of Robert Mailhouse on drums, Keanu Reeves on bass, and Gregg Miller as the initial lead guitarist and singer. The band started playing together following a chance meeting between Mailhouse and Reeves, who bonded over their shared interest in hockey. Over time, their casual jam sessions developed into writing and performing original music. The band initially went through several names before settling on Dogstar, inspired by a reference found by Mailhouse in a book by Henry Miller. In 1994, Bret Domrose joined the band, adding an additional vocalist and guitarist to the lineup. Dogstar gained moderate recognition in the mid-1990s, particularly due to Reeves’ public profile as an actor.

Dogstar’s early career involved extensive touring in the U.S. and Asia. They performed as an opening act for notable artists such as David Bowie at the Hollywood Palladium in 1995 and Bon Jovi on their “These Days – Crossroads” Tour in Australia and New Zealand in the same year. Following Miller’s departure, Domrose took over lead vocals in 1995. Their first official release was the four-track EP “Quattro Formaggi” in 1996, followed by their debut album, “Our Little Visionary,” which saw distribution primarily in Japan. The band also performed at European festivals, including Zwemdokrock Festival in Belgium in 1996 and the Glastonbury Festival in England in 1999. In 1999, they released their second album, “Happy Ending,” which Domrose described as having a more “pop-aggressive” sound. Dogstar concluded its initial active period in 2002 after a final performance in Japan.

After a hiatus of nearly two decades, the members of Dogstar began to reconnect for jam sessions in 2020. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for the band members to dedicate more time to their music, leading to intensive songwriting sessions. In July 2022, Dogstar officially announced their reunion. Their return to public performance occurred in May 2023 at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival. This marked their first public appearance in over 20 years and featured both old and new material. In July 2023, Dogstar released the single “Everything Turns Around,” ahead of their third album, “Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees,” which debuted in October 2023. The band subsequently embarked on tours in North America and Japan, with additional tour dates announced for 2024.