William Shatner is boldly going where very few 95-year-old entertainment legends have gone before — straight onto a festival stage with an all-star rock band and the volume cranked towards warp speed.
The legendary Star Trek actor has officially announced that his newly created rock spectacle will make its live debut at Riot Fest 2026, taking place from 18–20 September at Douglass Park in Chicago.
Shatner will join an absolutely stacked festival bill featuring the likes of Iggy Pop, Blink-182, Weezer, Morrissey, Public Image Ltd., Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, The Pogues, The Damned and Jawbreaker.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Captain Kirk. Heavy metal. Riot Fest.
What a time to be alive, mun.
🎸 FROM THE FINAL FRONTIER TO THE FESTIVAL STAGE
Shatner’s upcoming performance is being described as a full-scale rock experience, combining his unmistakable spoken-word delivery with cinematic storytelling, heavy guitars and a band packed with seasoned rock musicians.
Rather than simply standing behind a microphone and dramatically reading lyrics while someone noodles away in the background, this is being presented as a proper live production built to bring both Shatner’s previous recordings and his latest musical adventures crashing onto the stage.
The performance will also offer fans an early taste of his upcoming heavy metal album, which is currently being assembled with contributions from a galaxy-sized collection of rock and metal royalty. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
🤘 MEET SHATNER’S ALL-STAR RIOT FEST BAND
Shatner will be backed by members of Nuclear Messiah alongside several musicians connected to Cleopatra Records.
The live band currently includes:
- Marcus Nand – guitar and musical director
- Phil Soussan – bass
- Britt Lightning – guitar
- Fred Aching – drums
Soussan is well known for his time with Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol, while Britt Lightning has been tearing up stages as the guitarist for Vixen.
Together, the band are expected to combine bone-rattling rock with theatrical visuals, storytelling and Shatner’s unmistakably dramatic delivery.
Basically, imagine a rock concert colliding with a science-fiction stage show while somebody launches a Marshall stack through the bridge of the Enterprise.
Tidy.
🔥 “I EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN LIFT-OFF”
Speaking about the upcoming performance, Shatner said that music, much like space, has always been about exploration.
He described Riot Fest as the perfect place for something unpredictable, promising volume, intensity and more than a few surprises when the production finally hits the stage.
Shatner added that with such an accomplished band behind him, he expects nothing less than lift-off.
And honestly, who are we to argue with Captain Kirk?
🥁 A HEAVY METAL ALBUM PACKED WITH LEGENDS
The Riot Fest performance arrives as excitement continues to build around Shatner’s forthcoming heavy metal album.
The still-untitled project is expected to feature a vast collection of major names from the worlds of hard rock and metal, bringing together legendary singers, guitarists and drummers for one enormous musical experiment.
Former Motörhead drummer and current Scorpions sticksman Mikkey Dee has recorded drums for Shatner’s version of the Judas Priest classic “Living After Midnight”.
The album’s ridiculous roster of drumming talent also includes:
- Dave Lombardo – Slayer and Misfits
- Chris Adler – Lamb of God and Megadeth
- Vinny Appice – Black Sabbath and Dio
- Carmine Appice – Vanilla Fudge and Cactus
- Simon Wright – AC/DC and Dio
- Bobby Rondinelli – Blue Öyster Cult and Rainbow
- Kenny Aronoff
- Matt Starr
- Steve Zing
- Fred Aching
That is not a rhythm section.
That is a small metallic army preparing to invade Earth.
⚡ ROB HALFORD JOINS THE MADNESS
Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has also been confirmed as one of the project’s major guests.
The Metal God is contributing vocals to a reworked version of Priest’s legendary anthem “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”, pairing Halford’s soaring vocal power with Shatner’s theatrical spoken-word style.
The album is also expected to include interpretations of songs connected to Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, alongside newly written material.
Other musicians previously linked to the project include Zakk Wylde, Ritchie Blackmore and Henry Rollins, making the whole thing sound increasingly like someone handed William Shatner the keys to heavy metal and forgot to ask for them back. (Louder)
🎤 DEFINITELY NOT A NOVELTY PERFORMANCE
Cleopatra Records founder Brian Perera has stressed that Shatner’s Riot Fest appearance is not being treated as a novelty act.
Instead, organisers are promising a genuine rock performance featuring world-class musicians, heavy production and one of entertainment’s most recognisable voices.
Shatner’s musical career has always refused to follow the usual rulebook.
His debut album, The Transformed Man, arrived in 1968 and featured dramatic spoken-word interpretations of songs including “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Mr. Tambourine Man”.
Since then, he has explored rock, country, blues, Christmas music, progressive music and autobiographical storytelling.
His 2004 album Has Been, produced by Ben Folds, became one of his most acclaimed releases, while 2020’s The Blues reached number one on Billboard’s blues chart.
Now, after decades of wandering through almost every musical universe available, Shatner has finally pointed the Enterprise towards heavy metal.
🛸 THE RIFF REPORT SAYS…
There are some news stories that arrive quietly.
This is not one of them.
William Shatner performing a full-scale rock spectacle at Riot Fest with former members of Ozzy Osbourne’s band, Vixen musicians and enough drummers to knock a small moon out of orbit is exactly the sort of glorious chaos we support.
Heavy metal has always been about breaking rules, embracing drama and refusing to behave sensibly.
Shatner has spent more than seven decades doing precisely that.
At 95, he could comfortably be sitting at home watching repeats of Star Trek with a cuppa and a box of Greggs sausage rolls.
Instead, he is preparing to walk onto a festival stage in Chicago backed by an all-star rock band.
Absolute legend behaviour.
The album’s official title, complete track listing and release date have not yet been announced, but more details are expected soon.
One thing is already certain: when William Shatner finally hits the Riot Fest stage this September, it could become one of the strangest, loudest and most unforgettable festival performances of 2026.
Set phasers to riffs. Captain Kirk is entering the pit. 🚀🤘🔥
