THE ANNOUNCEMENT
William Shatner will perform his in-progress metal album at Riot Fest 2026 in Chicago with a backing band that includes Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol), Britt Lightning (Vixen), and drummers from across the metal world *†. At 95, he's taking spoken-word theatrics into full rock show territory with musicians who've played stadiums *. The album isn't finished yet — no title, no release date — but Riot Fest gets the live debut *.
THE DETAILS
- Riot Fest 2026, September 18–20 at Douglass Park in Chicago †
- Backing band: guitarist Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan (who wrote Ozzy's "Shot In The Dark"), guitarist Britt Lightning, and drummer Fred Aching *†
- Album in progress for Cleopatra Records features drummers Mikkey Dee (Motörhead/Scorpions), Dave Lombardo, Chris Adler, Vinny Appice, Carmine Appice, and Kenny Aronoff *
- Covers include Judas Priest's "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" with Rob Halford and "Living After Midnight" with Mikkey Dee †
- Production by Adam Hamilton and Brian Perera with additional work from Jürgen Engler of Die Krupps *
- Festival lineup includes Tool, Twenty One Pilots, Morrissey, Iggy Pop, and Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter *†
WHY IT MATTERS
BUCKET LIST. This is either the strangest festival booking of the decade or proof that Shatner's decade-long Cleopatra Records run has earned him a real band and a real stage *. The drummer list reads like a metal hall of fame reunion, but whether a 95-year-old actor can hold a Riot Fest crowd for a full set with unfinished material is the actual experiment here *.