In a surprising turn of events for 2026, William Shatner has formed a new heavy metal band and is gearing up to launch their album at a music festival in Chicago this summer. The 95-year-old Canadian actor, best known for his role as Captain James Tiberius Kirk in the original Star Trek series, has a history of defying expectations and exploring new ventures.
Despite being primarily recognized for his iconic Star Trek character, Shatner has delved into music over the years, releasing multiple albums since his debut with “The Transformed Man” in 1968. Despite facing criticism from critics and fans for his unique style of spoken-word covers of popular songs, Shatner has persisted in his musical pursuits.
His upcoming album release at Riot Fest, a renowned music festival featuring a variety of genres like punk, rock, hip-hop, metal, and alternative music, comes as a culmination of his musical journey. The festival, known for hosting band reunions and diverse acts, has reportedly been eager to have Shatner perform for years.
Shatner’s band, named The *uckers, consists of accomplished musicians such as Phil Soussan, Marcus Nand, Britt Lightning, and Fred Aching. Together, they will reinterpret Shatner’s past works and showcase new heavy metal material at the festival.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the event, Shatner emphasized the importance of music as a form of exploration, likening it to the vastness of space. However, he has set forth a series of demands for the festival organizers to meet, including unique requirements like fire breathers, a signed Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater, and themed dressing room requests.
Among his requests for the city of Chicago are opportunities to sing at a baseball game, co-anchor the weather with a local meteorologist, and have a street food named in his honor. Notably, Shatner’s most audacious plea is to have a boat renamed in his honor so he can once again captain a vessel.
