‘Star Trek’ Star William Shatner Just Shocked Everyone by Fronting a Heavy Metal Band at 95
William Shatner has spent more than seven decades reinventing himself in front of audiences, from commanding the Starship Enterprise to arguing cases as a Boston lawyer to genuinely going to space. At 95 years old, most performers would be content resting on that kind of legacy, but Shatner has never been one to slow down.
That restless creative energy has taken an unexpected turn this year, one that even longtime fans probably didn’t see coming. The actor has been quietly working on something entirely outside his usual wheelhouse, and this past weekend, the world finally got to see it.
Shatner made his live debut as the frontman of a heavy metal band this past weekend, performing both a club aftershow and a mainstage set at Chicago’s Riot Fest. His band, called The *uckers, played its first-ever live show Saturday night at Park West before Shatner took the Douglass Park stage for his official Riot Fest slot the following evening.
The lineup backing him is no joke, either. The *uckers features guitarist and musical director Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan, who’s previously played with Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol, guitarist Britt Lightning of Vixen, and drummer Fred Aching.
William Shatner (95) performing on stage 👀 pic.twitter.com/3T3RkKGwmi
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During the Park West aftershow, Shatner covered Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades,” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” delivering the lyrics in his trademark dramatic spoken-word style while his band ripped through the instrumentals behind him. He also debuted three original compositions titled “Rage,” “Sky,” and “One Fear,” each performed in that same distinctive spoken-word delivery fans have come to associate with his musical output over the years.
The set served as a preview for Shatner’s upcoming heavy metal album, tentatively titled ‘What the F Is Heavy Metal?,’ which he’s recording for Cleopatra Records. The record is set to feature an impressive list of guest musicians, including Queen’s Brian May, Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.
According to the festival, booking Shatner wasn’t exactly a quick process. Riot Fest organizers said they managed to persuade the actor to join the lineup “after years of persistent letter writing,” finally landing him for this year’s edition of the Chicago festival.
Shatner addressed the milestone himself ahead of the performance, sharing a message with fans through an Instagram Reel posted by the festival. “I decided that you’re such big fans of mine, that I’m going to debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest. I hope that you’re there — and I hope I’m there,” he said in the clip.
This unexpected pivot into metal comes on the heels of a serious health scare for the actor. Shatner was diagnosed with stage 4 malignant melanoma in 2023, which had spread to his lungs and brain, but after two years of immunotherapy and surgery, he is now reportedly cancer free.
That recovery hasn’t slowed his momentum, either. Shatner has already confirmed he’ll be taking the stage again next year, with plans to play a half-hour set at Coachella in spring 2027, adding yet another unlikely chapter to an already legendary career.
For longtime fans, Shatner’s foray into metal isn’t entirely out of character. He’s recorded numerous albums dating back to 1968, spanning spoken-word performances, dramatic readings, blues, rock, and even children’s music, with past collaborators including Ben Folds, Brad Paisley, and Iggy Pop.
Between his space travel, his acting legacy, and now his heavy metal debut, Shatner continues to prove that age is little more than a number when it comes to trying something new.
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