William Shatner, the iconic Star Trek actor, has announced a surprising career change at age 95: he will perform live as a heavy metal artist at Riot Fest in Chicago this September. The announcement comes just months after Shatner was rushed to the hospital for a blood sugar emergency.
Shatner's Heavy Metal Debut at Riot Fest
Shatner will take the stage at Riot Fest, a renowned heavy metal festival, alongside guitarist-musical director Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan, guitarist Britt Lightning, and drummer Fred Aching. The performance is scheduled for Sunday, September 2026.
In a promotional video, Shatner said: "Riot Fest fans, Shatner here, I've been dinking around, found all those letters you sent me. And I've decided, you're such big fans of mine, that I'm gonna debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest. And I hope you're there, and I hope I'm there. And I hope that you have my rider, and yes, don't forget, my bowl of sauerkraut, if you please."
Festival's Humorous Response
Riot Fest officially announced the news, stating: "After years of writing letters… Riot Fest 2026: Now with 100% more William Shatner, with his heavy metal band The *uckers. Appearing Sunday. Tickets on sale now." The festival also posted a humorous list of demands from Shatner's rider, including a bot renamed in his honor "so he can captain a ship again," a classic Chicago food item named after him, four feet of Polish sausage, a bouquet of flowers in a vase, and a Montreal Canadians hockey sweater signed by John Stamos.
Shatner shared his passion for music, saying: "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."
Recent Health Scare
Last year, Shatner was rushed to the hospital due to a medical emergency involving his blood sugar levels. He was later reported to be "resting comfortably" and doing "good." Prior to that, he had denied rumors of a cancer diagnosis, calling them a hoax created by a Facebook page using AI to generate fake news. Shatner had previously battled stage four melanoma but is now cancer-free.
