‘Star Trek’ Star William Shatner Surprises Fans by Fronting a Heavy Metal Band at 95

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
William Shatner1
Share:

William Shatner has spent over seven decades reinventing himself in front of audiences, from commanding the Starship Enterprise to practicing law in Boston, and even traveling to space. At 95 years old, many performers would be satisfied resting on such a legacy, but Shatner is not one to slow down.

This year, his restless creative energy has taken an unexpected turn that even his longtime fans might not have anticipated. The actor has been quietly working on a project completely outside his usual realm, and this past weekend, the world finally got to witness it.

Shatner made his live debut as the frontman of a heavy metal band at Chicago’s Riot Fest, performing both a club aftershow and a mainstage set. 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 performance the following evening.

The lineup supporting him is impressive. The *uckers features guitarist and musical director Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan, who has played with Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol, guitarist Britt Lightning of Vixen, and drummer Fred Aching.

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 signature dramatic spoken-word style while his band played the instrumentals behind him. He also debuted three original songs titled “Rage,” “Sky,” and “One Fear,” each performed in the same distinctive spoken-word delivery fans have come to expect from his musical endeavors.

The set served as a preview for Shatner’s upcoming heavy metal album, tentatively titled ‘What the F Is Heavy Metal?,’ which he is recording for Cleopatra Records. The album is set to feature an impressive roster 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 a quick process. Riot Fest organizers revealed that they managed to convince the actor to join the lineup “after years of persistent letter writing,” finally securing him for this year’s edition of the Chicago festival.

Shatner himself addressed this milestone 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 surprising shift into metal follows 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. Shatner has already confirmed he will take the stage again next year, with plans to perform a half-hour set at Coachella in spring 2027, adding yet another remarkable chapter to his legendary career.

For longtime fans, Shatner’s foray into metal isn’t entirely out of character. He has recorded numerous albums since 1968, spanning spoken-word performances, dramatic readings, blues, rock, and even children’s music, collaborating with artists like Ben Folds, Brad Paisley, and Iggy Pop.

Between his space travels, acting legacy, and now his heavy metal debut, Shatner continues to demonstrate that age is merely a number when it comes to exploring new avenues.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.

Share: