William Shatner, the iconic Star Trek actor, is embarking on a surprising new career move at age 95. He will perform live for the first time with his heavy metal band, The *uckers, at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Band and Festival Announcement
The band, whose full name is The *uckers, includes guitarist Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Sousssan, Britt Lightning on guitar, and Fred Achin on drums. They will play songs from Shatner's musical catalogue with a heavy metal twist and preview their upcoming album, What the F Is Heavy Metal.
Riot Fest founder Mike ‘Riot Mike’ Petryshyn announced the booking, jokingly noting years of persistent letters to Shatner. He shared a purported rider list including demands to rename a boat in Shatner's honor and theme his dressing room as “Shatner’s Shag Shack.”
Shatner's Statement
Shatner expressed excitement, stating, “I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration. Riot Fest is exactly the kind of place where anything can happen. We’re bringing volume, intensity, and a few surprises. I can’t wait to share this experience with the fans.”
Fan Reactions
Fans reacted with surprise on Reddit. Feather757 wrote, “95 y/o William Shatner in a metal band was not on my 2026 bingo card.” Crushmans noted, “Christopher Lee did it in his 90s too. I mean it’s happened twice, which is still a lot.” TheVentiLebowski added, “I’m less than half his age, and I don’t think I would have the energy to do this.”
Festival Lineup
Riot Fest 2026, held September 18–20 at Douglass Park in Chicago, also features Alanis Morissette, Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Pixies, Sex Pistols, and Twenty One Pilots.
