William Shatner has officially entered heavy metal territory — and at 95, the Star Trek legend is showing no signs of slowing down.
The actor made his live heavy metal debut Saturday night, September 19, at Chicago’s Park West, performing with his newly formed band, The *uckers. The show served as a warm-up for his scheduled appearance at Riot Fest, marking an unexpected new chapter in a career that has already spanned television, film, books and music.
And Shatner certainly did not ease into the genre.
The six-song set included his own new material alongside some instantly recognizable metal classics. He performed Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades,” giving the 95-year-old entertainer the chance to put his own theatrical spin on songs associated with some of rock’s biggest names.
The performance is part of Shatner’s upcoming heavy metal project, What the F Is Heavy Metal?, an album born from his own admission that he initially knew very little about the genre.
The unusual project began after his record label, Cleopatra Records, suggested that he make a heavy metal album. Shatner has explained that the question left him asking exactly what heavy metal actually was — eventually inspiring the title of the album itself.
Rather than attempting to imitate established metal performers, Shatner has approached the project as an experiment. He has described the music as being driven by emotion and energy, while promising that even familiar cover songs would receive his own interpretation.
Backing him is a group of experienced rock and metal musicians. The *uckers lineup includes guitarist and musical director Marcus Nand, former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Phil Soussan, Vixen guitarist Britt Lightning and drummer Fred Aching.
The album itself also boasts an extraordinary collection of guest musicians, including Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, Queen guitarist Brian May, Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford, Disturbed bassist John Moyer and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.
For Shatner, the move into heavy metal is simply the latest form of musical exploration. His recording career dates back to 1968, and over the years he has experimented with spoken word, rock, blues, country, Christmas music and other styles.
Now, decades after first becoming famous as Captain James T. Kirk, he is stepping onto a very different kind of stage.
At 95, Shatner has traded the final frontier for distortion, loud guitars and some of the most recognizable songs in heavy metal.
And his unexpected debut proves that he may still have plenty of new territory left to explore.
