William Shatner, the 95-year-old actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," is set to debut his heavy metal band, The *uckers, at this year's Riot Fest music festival.
The festival announced Shatner's involvement on its Instagram, confirming he will perform on Sunday, September 20, at Douglass Park in Chicago. Shatner, a Montreal native, appeared in a video clip to confirm the news, stating, "You're such big fans of mine, that I'm gonna debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest." He also humorously requested his rider include "my bowl of sauerkraut, if you please."
The festival's announcement included what appeared to be an AI-generated image of Shatner in a rock outfit, signaling with his hands and holding a guitar. "After years of writing letters… Riot Fest 2026: Now with 100% more williamshatner, with his heavy metal band The *uckers," the festival's post read.
The news has drawn a variety of reactions from fans online. Some expressed surprise at the actor's pivot to heavy metal at his age, with one commenter noting, "A 95 year old man doing heavy metal at Riot Fest, damn lol." Others drew parallels to other actors venturing into music, like John Stamos. Shatner's past musical endeavors, including a cover of Pulp's "Common People," were also referenced by fans.
Shatner is scheduled to perform on the same day as artists Alanis Morissette and Pierce The Veil. Tickets for Riot Fest 2026 are currently on sale.