Shatner Brings Heavy Metal Album to Chicago's Riot Fest Stage
William Shatner will perform six tracks from his upcoming album 'What the F Is Heavy Metal?' at Riot Fest in Chicago this weekend, including a cover of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman.' The actor and singer said he spent two months preparing with scratch tracks and rehearsed with his band, the *uckers, for the first time yesterday. Shatner emphasized that the project is serious, not a joke, and follows his previous albums spanning blues, country, and other genres.
Shatner’s Riot Fest set will feature three originals co-written with Rob Sharenow and three covers, including Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” He prepared for two months using scratch tracks on his phone to master song entrances and exits, a technique he says is essential for heavy metal’s uniform sound. His first rehearsal with the band the *uckers occurred just a day before this interview, and he described the session as energizing and promising. The album itself already has music recorded by 50 musicians, with Shatner’s vocals to be added in the studio this winter. At 95, he frames the project as a serious artistic venture, not a novelty act, and cites his prior genre-spanning records—blues, country, progressive rock—as context for this latest exploration.
Shatner’s festival appearance could broaden heavy metal’s audience by drawing his longtime fans—Trekkies and general pop-culture followers—into a punk-centric event. His earnest approach may also challenge assumptions about age and genre boundaries, potentially encouraging older artists to experiment with aggressive music. However, the novelty factor could overshadow the music itself, leading to mixed reception among purists. Ultimately, this may serve as a cultural bridge, sparking conversations about artistic reinvention and the legitimacy of跨界 projects.