For death metal fans, 1992's Milwaukee Metal Fest boasted an embarrassment of riches. Deicide were booked as headliners for the July 18 all-dayer, topping a bill which also featured Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Cancer, Brutal Truth and Malevolent Creation among others.
Scanning down the event flyer, one could easily miss the promise of a 'special appearance' from King Diamond and - more randomly - LA grunge rockers Dogstar, featuring "Keanu Reeves of 'Bill and Ted'": it was a gig that the Hollywood superstar would come to look back on with great affection.
Dogstar were no Wyld Stallyns, and their popularity never threatened to derail Reeves' burgeoning Hollywood career, but the bassist took the band seriously... at least once they changed their name from Small Fecal Matter. The LA group - who also included Days Of Our Lives/Seinfeld actor Robert Mailhouse on drums - were labelmates of Tool on Zoo Entertainment records, recorded two albums - 1996's Our Little Visionary and 2000's Happy Ending - and played shows with David Bowie and Bon Jovi, as well as performing at the 1994 Glastonbury festival.
But the group's appearance at the Milwaukee Metal Fest is one that has lived long the memory of Keanu Reeves. The actor revisited the day in an interview with GQ magazine in 2019.
