Keanu Reeves is best known as one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but behind the spotlight, he has always carried another dream – music. With a bass in hand and his signature humility, Keanu shares: “I always wanted to play bass… It spoke to me.”

From Toronto to Hollywood – and the dream of bass

In 1985, at the age of 20, Keanu left Toronto for Hollywood, California. He quickly found success in film, but alongside that dream was another: playing bass. He didn’t learn through music theory or formal training like many musicians, but in his own words: “I think I’m a wild animal playing with a piece of wood.”

His first bass didn’t come from a fancy shop, but through a chance parking lot exchange – what he calls a “bass drug deal.” From there, he began experimenting, feeling the instrument, and letting music lead him forward.

Defining encounters

Keanu once asked Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a lesson. Flea didn’t give him scales or rules, only advice: “Just feel it, man. Just play.” That became Keanu’s approach – to play with emotion, to let the music flow.
Another fateful encounter was meeting Robert Mailhouse, a hockey buddy who also played drums. Along with guitarist Bret Domrose, they eventually formed Dogstar in 1992.

Dogstar – A Venn diagram of sound

Keanu describes the band as overlapping circles. Bret brought expansive stereo guitar sounds, Robert carried the Motown–rock rhythm, while Keanu was deeply influenced by Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order.

“When I heard Joy Division for the first time… I was blown away,” he recalls.
Dogstar never chased trends. They began with improvisation, then shaped songs through riffs, beats, and collective feeling. As Keanu puts it: “Play the song. Let the song play you.”

Arch Motorcycle – from basslines to engines

Beyond music, Keanu co-founded Arch Motorcycle with Gard Hollinger. For him, both music and motorcycles share a philosophy: creativity, design, and individuality. A guitar or a custom bike – both are tools and works of art, where “form and function” merge into one.

Music – turning dreams into reality

Keanu never sugarcoats the struggle: “It’s not gonna be easy. F**. But it’ll change.”*
To him, music isn’t just a hobby. It’s a refuge, a language of joy, sorrow, loss, and celebration. It’s present in birthdays, parties, and memorials – the soundtrack of life.
He calls it the journey from dream to reality – a reminder to anyone holding onto a dream: “Don’t ever quit your dream.”