Metal, the final frontier.
Joining the musical lineup at Riot Fest in September is the debut of William Shatner’s new heavy metal band The *Uckers.
The band will be added to the bill and will feature, along with Shatner, guitarists Marcus Nand (Mike Tramp, Candice Night) and Britt Lightning (Vixen, Cactus), bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol) and Fred Aching (Kings of Thrash, Dead Groove, Fraxures) on drums.
Riot Fest will be the first time the group has played out live, and is timed with an upcoming album on Cleopatra Records. According to an announcement Thursday, “the performance will reimagine songs from across Shatner’s musical catalog while previewing material from his forthcoming heavy metal album.”
Shatner, 95, has experimented widely with film, music and other pursuits since his famous run at the helm of Star Trek.
“I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration,” he said in a statement. “Riot Fest is exactly the kind of place where anything can happen. We’re bringing volume, intensity and a few surprises. I can’t wait to share this experience with the fans.”
Riot Fest, running Sept 18-20 in Chicago’s Douglass Park, previously announced its 2026 lineup in June, with Twenty One Pilots and Iggy Pop headlining on Friday, Tool and Morrissey on Saturday, Pierce the Veil and Alanis Morissette on Sunday. – Chicago Tribune/TNS
