William Shatner Debuts Heavy Metal Band THE UCKERS at Riot Fest

William Shatner made history by performing live with his newly formed heavy metal band THE UCKERS at Riot Fest aftershow in Chicago on September 19, 2026. The 95-year-old "Star Trek" legend delivered a set that blended classic rock covers with previews of his upcoming album "What The F Is Heavy Metal?".

Performance Details and Lineup

THE UCKERS features a stellar roster including Marcus Nand on guitar and musical director, Phil Soussan on bass, Britt Lightning of VIXEN on guitar, and Fred Aching of Kings of Thrash and Dead Groove on drums. The performance reinterpreted songs from Shatner's extensive musical catalog while teasing material from his forthcoming rock/metal project.

Prior to the show, bassist Phil Soussan expressed enthusiasm about playing with childhood heroes, noting his long-time fandom of the "Star Trek" series. Shatner himself shared on social media that he has explored space and time before, and now explores distortion.

Organizers of Riot Fest secured Shatner's participation after years of correspondence, and he arrived with specific requests including sauerkraut, fire-breathing effects, a Montreal Canadiens sweater signed by John Stamos, Polish sausage, and adoptable puppies from a local animal rescue organization.

The album "What The F Is Heavy Metal?" emerged from a conversation with his longtime label Cleopatra Records, which encouraged him to create a heavy metal record inspired by the song "Patience" by Guns N' Roses. Shatner described his creative process as beginning with the premise that he knows nothing, then experimenting with emotional intensity rather than violence.