William Shatner to debut heavy metal set at Riot Fest

William Shatner, the 95-year-old actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," will make his live heavy metal debut this September at the Riot Fest music festival in Chicago. The performance, scheduled for September 20 in Douglass Park, will be the first live outing for his new band, The Uckers, and will coincide with the release of an upcoming heavy metal album.

Shatner announced the performance, stating he has always believed that music, like space, is about exploration. He described Riot Fest as the kind of place where anything can happen and promised volume, intensity, and surprises for the audience. The band backing him features an all-star lineup of musicians, including guitarist Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan, guitarist Britt Lightning, and drummer Fred Aching.

The festival performance is designed to reimagine songs from Shatner's existing musical catalog while previewing material from his forthcoming album. The album, described by his label Cleopatra Records as a full-scale heavy metal project, will feature covers of classic metal songs and include guest appearances from notable rock musicians. Rob Halford of Judas Priest is confirmed to appear on a...