Keanu Reeves Makes Admission About Performing for Bon Jovi 31 Years Ago
Keanu Reeves is looking back on one of the most memorable moments of his music career.
The actor and musician recently shared his reaction to performing with his alternative rock band Dogstar as an opening act for Bon Jovi during the mid-1990s. More than three decades later, Reeves admitted he was stunned by the opportunity at the time.
"When we opened for Bon Jovi at The Forum, that was just like, ‘What?!,'" Reeves recalled, according to Loudwire.
The experience happened during Dogstar's rise in the 1990s, when the band was building its reputation on the Los Angeles music scene. Although Reeves was already becoming a major Hollywood star following films like Speed, he remained committed to his role as Dogstar's bassist.
"Then it was like, it felt okay. It was fun. It was fun," Reeves added.
Dogstar opened for Bon Jovi on select dates of the rock band's 1995 These Days tour, including performances at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. The lineup featured Reeves on bass, Bret Domrose on vocals and guitar, and Robert Mailhouse on drums.
While many bands in the 1990s were influenced by the exploding grunge movement from Seattle and alternative rock scenes across the West Coast, Dogstar never felt fully connected to those trends.
"We weren't part of it, at all," Reeves said while discussing the Los Angeles music scene of the era.
His bandmates agreed with the assessment.
"I think, you know, we were feeling it, but to what Keanu was saying, we weren't really a part of it," Mailhouse explained.
"But we were feeling it and it was a good time to be alive and a great time to be in Los Angeles at that time as well. It was exciting because it was a whole other sort of nail in the coffin of a certain genre and a bring up of another one. Everything seemed exciting."
For Dogstar, the period was less about fitting into a movement and more about developing their own identity. The band spent years playing clubs, bars, and smaller venues while learning the music business.
The reflection comes as Dogstar enters a new chapter in its career.
The trio recently announced the release of All In Now, their latest studio album, which arrived on May 29 through their independent label, Dillon Street Records. The project follows the band's 2023 reunion album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, which marked their return after more than two decades away from recording and touring together.
Dogstar is scheduled to support the new album with an extensive 2026 tour across North America, Europe and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Bon Jovi remains active as well. The legendary rock group, led by Jon Bon Jovi, continues to perform decades after becoming one of the world's best-selling rock bands. Known for hits such as "Livin' on a Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Always," the band has sold more than 130 million records worldwide.
For Reeves, however, one memory still stands out. Looking back at Dogstar's chance to open for Bon Jovi in front of thousands of fans, his reaction remains as genuine as it was in 1995.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 7:47 PM.