William Shatner, 95, Debuts Heavy Metal Band THE *UCKERS Before Riot Fest Set

William Shatner made his first live heavy metal appearance on Saturday, September 19, 2026, playing a Riot Fest aftershow at Park West in Chicago with his newly assembled band, THE *UCKERS. The 95-year-old “Star Trek” star used the club date as a warm-up for his official Riot Fest festival set the following night at Douglass Park.

The Park West show ran six songs, mixing metal covers with original material from Shatner’s upcoming album. He and the band tore through Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades,” interspersed with three new originals.

• The three original songs performed were “do not go gentle into that good night,” “will we care when the sky turns black” and “damn old age.”
• THE *UCKERS lineup: guitarist/musical director Marcus Nand, guitarist Britt Lightning of Vixen, bassist Phil Soussan (a former Ozzy Osbourne collaborator) and drummer Fred Aching of Kings of Thrash and Dead Groove.
• Shatner is set to play a 40-minute Riot Fest slot at 5:25 p.m. local time on September 20 in Douglass Park.
• Shatner has said THE *UCKERS are booked for a 30-minute Coachella set in spring 2027, though Coachella has not confirmed this.

William Shatner Riot Fest Setlist

1. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
2. do not go gentle into that good night
3. Ace of Spades (Motorhead cover)
4. will we care when the sky turns black
5. Enter Sandman (Metallica cover)
6. damn old age

What Is ‘What The F Is Heavy Metal?’

The songs performed at Park West are pulled from Shatner’s forthcoming metal album, “What the F Is Heavy Metal?,” due out through Cleopatra Records. Shatner has said the title traces back to his own reaction when Cleopatra founder Brian Perera first floated the idea of him making a metal record: “What the f**k is heavy metal?”

The record is expected to bring in a heavyweight guest roster, including Queen’s Brian May, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Disturbed bassist John Moyer and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. No release date has been set. Instrumental tracks have already been recorded, and Shatner planned to lay down his vocals in the studio this coming winter.

How William Shatner Prepared for His First Metal Show

Shatner told Billboard he spent two months rehearsing on his own using a scratch track on his phone to memorize his cues, since, in his words, heavy metal “all sounds alike” without careful counting to find entrances and exits. He noted his first full rehearsal with THE *UCKERS took place just a day before that interview.

Describing the new musical chapter, Shatner said he feels “so enlivened” and “filled with passion” since taking on the genre. “It’s an energy that permeates your body and lifts you up. Heavy metal is the rhythm of life,” he said, adding that the performances feel like “one of the most exciting” things he has done.

William Shatner’s Riot Fest Lineup Slot

Sunday’s Riot Fest bill in Douglass Park features headliners Twenty One Pilots, Tool and Pierce the Veil, with additional sets from Iggy Pop, Rise Against, Pixies, Morrissey, Alanis Morissette and Elvis Costello. Shatner’s 40-minute performance is scheduled within that lineup.

More Info

• At 95, William Shatner Just Made His Heavy Metal Debut Covering Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne | American Songwriter
• Watch William Shatner, 95, make heavy metal live debut with Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica and Motörhead covers | NME
• See William Shatner Cover Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne in Heavy Metal Debut | Rolling Stone
• WATCH: William Shatner Covers METALLICA, MOTORHEAD, Ozzy Osbourne + More Live For First Time | Metal Injection
• Watch: WILLIAM SHATNER Covers OZZY OSBOURNE, METALLICA Classics At First-Ever Performance With His Heavy Metal Band THE *UCKERS | Blabbermouth
• William Shatner Performs Ozzy, Metallica, Motörhead Classics at His Debut Metal Show: Video + Setlist | Consequence
• William Shatner Talks Going Metal for Riot Fest His Unusual Interpretation of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ | Billboard
• Watch William Shatner cover Metallica, Ozzy, Motörhead and more as he fronts his first heavy metal show at the age of 95 | Louder / Classic Rock