William Shatner is no stranger to new worlds and experiences, yet the Star Trek legend’s career is boldly going in a surprise new direction.
Shatner, 95, will be taking to the stage with his band The *uckers (yes really) for their first-ever live performance at Riot Fest on Sunday, September 20.
Following the announcement, Riot Fest founder Mike ‘Riot Mike’ Petryshyn joked that booking had been years in the making.
‘After years of persistently — and perhaps annoyingly —writing letters to William Shatner about performing at Riot Fest, it appears that he was finally compelled,’ he wrote in a press release announcing the news.
‘I for one cannot wait to see Shatner get heavy. But that Shatner Rider… wasn’t expecting that today.’
The festival then shared what we hope is a joke list of Shatner’s demands for appearing in the show, including ‘rename a boat in Shatner’s honour so he can be a captain again’ and that his dressing room ‘must be themed as “Shatner’s Shag Shack”‘.
Shatner also released a statement about the upcoming gig, expressing his excitement.
‘I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration,’ he said.
‘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.’
Speaking of the fans, they’ve expressed their surprise about Shatner’s new career pivot on Reddit.
’95 y/o William Shatner in a metal band was not on my 2026 bingo card,’ wrote Feather757
Crushmans added: ‘What is it with old actors discovering metal? Christopher Lee did it in his 90s too. I mean it’s happened twice, which is still a lot.’
While TheVentiLebowski said: ‘I’m less than half his age, and I don’t think I would have the energy to do this.’
The *uckers (and that is their full name; we’re not censoring anything) boasts an impressive lineup including guitarist Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan, Britt Lightning on guitar, and Fred Achin on drums.
They’ll be playing songs from throughout Shatner’s musical catalogue with a heavy metal twist while also previewing their upcoming album, What the F Is Heavy Metal.
Joining Shatner at Riot Fest will be Alanis Morissette, Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Pixies, Sex Pistols, and Twenty One Pilots.
Riot Fest 2026 returns to Douglass Park in Chicago on September 18–20.