The bassist Keanu Reeves “grew up listening to”
Few Hollywood icons are as beloved as Keanu Reeves. Affectionately dubbed ‘The Internet’s Boyfriend’, this moniker conveys the type of reverence the actor basks in, often revealing a caring side of his personality both on and off-screen.
Only Reeves could have starred in as many outright terrible films and still be as adored the world over. This is thanks to his affable everyman nature and the fact that, unlike most of his most prominent peers in Tinseltown, he has a multifaceted and authentic nature.
From appearing unannounced at fans’ weddings to helping out those in need, Reeves is not your everyday star and continues to show why he is so different from the norm in the industry in which he made his name. His love of music, meanwhile, is one aspect of Reeves’ life that has significantly set him apart from the crowd. In addition to boating a brilliant record collection, the actor also plays bass in the band Dogstar. Unlike most musical projects by Hollywood actors, the group are so noteworthy that they’ve earned opening acts in Rancid and Weezer and once even supported David Bowie.
An avid punk fan, Reeves admires first-wave groups such as Ramones and The Clash as well as hardcore pioneers Minor Threat and Bad Brains. Despite that affinity, his favourite band is the English post-punk outfit Joy Division. The actor has conveyed his adoration for the quartet on many occasions and is particularly fascinated by their bass player, Peter Hook, whom he deems his idol on the four-string.
As a bassist, Reeves has many inspirations outside of Peter Hook. One of the most important for him is Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, one of the most influential bass players in alternative rock. When appearing on Amoeba Records YouTube channel with Dogstar in 2024, Reeves explained how he grew up listening to Gordon’s work with the New York band.
After pulling out an Amoeba branded mug and an AC/DC board game out of his bag, Reeves then came to Gordon’s venerable autobiography Girl in a Band. He said: “Then Kim Gordon Girl in a Band. Love Sonic Youth, love Kim Gordon’s bass playing, basslines, bass how it’s set in the music and her lyrics, her singing; it’s cool to get a chance to learn more about someone who I grew up listening to and being inspired by.”
Watch the clip below.