Reeve Carney originated the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, in the
record-breaking Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn off The Dark" in
2010. A lifelong musician, Reeve jumped at the opportunity to perform a
score by U2's Bono and The Edge--not to mention re-team with director
Julie Taymor, with whom he worked in her film "The Tempest".
In 2013, however, Reeve finally hung up his Spidey suit and headed to
Dublin for his latest project: Showtime's much buzzed-about new John Logan and Sam Mendes series Penny Dreadful (2014), in which Reeve plays reckless hedonist Dorian Gray.
When he's not finding new ways to terrify himself as an actor, Reeve is
diving headfirst into his music. He's currently putting the finishing
touches on his upcoming album "Youth is Wasted," which he recorded
primarily in his New York apartment. With his demanding "Spider-Man"
schedule, it was impossible to get back and forth to the studio, so
Reeve decided to build his own studio--right in his living room.
His bizarre Broadway hours also made teaming up with other musicians
all but impossible, so Reeve took matters into his own hands, literally,
playing every single instrument himself. Thus, the album has a homespun
quality, à la Paul McCartney's "Ram"--which just so happens to be
Reeve's all-time favorite album.
Making music is nothing new to Reeve. He signed with Interscope/Universal at age
22 and formed his namesake band Carney soon after, with his brother
Zane. The bank released its debut album, "Mr. Green Vol.
1,"(DAS Label/Interscope/Universal)in 2010 and a live album, "Live at Molly
Malone's," in 2007(DASLabel/Interscope/Universal).
Reeve becoming a performer was all but a foregone conclusion: pretty
much everybody in his family works in the arts. His great-uncle was
actor Art Carney. His jewelry designer mother has a degree from
Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and his father wrote jingles.
From early childhood. Reeve sang on his father's jingles. and at age
10, he was already recording with [link=nm0001391 on "HIStory."
Reeve spent much of his high-school years hanging out at blues clubs
around Los Angeles, playing with musicians over twice his age--and
getting a better music education than any class could provide. His
dedication paid off, and, after graduating from Hamilton High School
Academy of Music, he got into USC's prestigious Thornton School of
Music, but he left after a year to pursue his music in earnest.
In an upcoming Jeff Buckley biopic, Reeve will play the late singer,
marrying his love of both music and acting.
