William Shatner to debut heavy metal band The *uckers at Riot Fest

William Shatner, the 95-year-old “Star Trek” icon, is set to make a bold musical leap at Riot Fest 2026, debuting his new heavy metal band, The *uckers, in Chicago’s Douglass Park on September 20. The appearance marks a surreal chapter in the actor’s seven-decade career, blending his storied legacy with a genre-defying pivot to heavy metal. The festival, which runs September 18–20, has long pursued Shatner, with co-founder Mike “Riot Mike” Petryshyn admitting the actor was “finally compelled” after years of persistent letters. The collaboration promises to be one of the most talked-about moments in the event’s 21st year, joining headliners like Twenty One Pilots, Tool, and Iggy Pop.

Shatner’s performance will feature reimagined tracks from his musical catalog and previews of his upcoming heavy metal album, titled *What the F Is Heavy Metal*. The project, set for release via Cleopatra Records, includes covers of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, alongside original material. Backing him is an all-star lineup of metal musicians, including bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne), guitarist Britt Lightning (Vixen), and drummer Fred Aching. The band’s name, The *uckers, hints at the irreverent spirit of the venture, which Shatner has described as a “gathering of forces” blending “loud imagination” and “honest intensity.”

Shatner’s Unconventional Rider Demands

The announcement came with a comically elaborate rider list, a hallmark of high-profile performances. Shatner’s demands include a boat renamed in his honor to “allow him to captain a ship again,” a DeLorean to transport him to the stage (a nod to *Back to the Future*), and a “Shatner’s Shag Shack” dressing room stocked with four feet of Polish sausage, eight pallets of Faygo, and adoptable puppies. He also requested to sing *Take Me Out to the Ball Game* at a Chicago baseball game and co-anchor the weather with local meteorologist Tom Skilling. For the festival itself, he demanded an intro video by GWAR, “fire breathers. Many of them,” and a Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater signed by John Stamos. “Nothing unreasonable here as far as I can see,” Shatner joked on social media, urging organizers to “get this together” in time for the Sept. 20 show.

Riot Fest’s Petryshyn acknowledged the demands as “unexpecting,” noting the festival’s reputation for quirky stunts. The event previously lured John Stamos with a butter sculpture and other outlandish gestures, a pattern that seems to continue with Shatner’s antics. The actor, who has previously released spoken-word albums and collaborated with artists like Ben Folds and Zakk Wylde, has long embraced musical experimentation. His 1968 album *The Transformed Man*, which reinterpreted Beatles songs with dramatic narration, was met with mixed reviews but cemented his reputation as a boundary-pushing performer.

A Career of Defying Expectations

Shatner’s foray into heavy metal underscores a career defined by reinvention. At 95, he remains a cultural fixture, having become the oldest person to travel to space in 2021. His recent projects include a 2024 live album, *So Fragile, So Blue*, and a 2026 interview where he mused, “I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration.” The Riot Fest debut, he said, is “exactly the kind of place where anything can happen.”

The performance also highlights Shatner’s resilience. Last September, he was hospitalized for a medical emergency, yet he has continued to engage in public projects, including a video message for Riot Fest in which he declared, “I hope you’re there, and I hope I’m there.” Fans have responded with a mix of awe and humor, with many calling him “unstoppable” and “a king.”

Riot Fest’s lineup this year includes a mix of punk, rock, and metal acts, with Shatner standing out as its oldest performer. His appearance not only adds a surreal twist to the festival but also reflects its history of defying conventional programming. As Petryshyn noted, “After years of persistently — and perhaps annoyingly — writing letters to William Shatner, it appears that he was finally compelled.” Whether the rider demands will be fully met remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Shatner’s performance will be an event worth remembering.