William Shatner is 95 years old, and he has a metal band now. The band is called the *uckers, and they made their debut on Sept. 19 at Park West in Chicago. The lineup includes guitarists Marcus Nand and Britt Lightning, bassist Phil Soussan, and drummer Fred Achin.
The set was short but heavy. Setlist.fm logged a six-song performance that included covers of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” Motörhead’s “Ace Of Spades,” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Shatner also performed three original songs, one of which may be titled “damn old age.”
Shatner On His Creative Push
In an interview with Michael Moynihan from earlier this month, Shatner explained his current creative drive. He said he is writing books and working on albums, and he described the heavy metal project as something he is committed to.
“I’m gonna do a concert. I’m gonna do 30-minute concert — 30 minutes of heavy metal,” he said, laughing in disbelief. “With a band. 30 minutes on stage.”
He admitted he doesn’t know much about heavy metal. But he wrote a song in response to Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience.” He described it as “impassioned.” Then he listed what he’s tired of:
“I’m tired of old age. I’m tired of losing hair. I’m tired of not eating. I’m tired of catching a cold. I’m tired of being tired. I’m tired!”
The Chicago Debut
The Park West show was a warm-up for the bigger event. Today, Shatner and the *uckers perform at Riot Fest on the Rebel Stage. The Chicago debut drew a crowd ready to hear what a 95-year-old actor sounds like on stage.
Shatner has been busy booking shows. Earlier this summer, he announced he booked Coachella. His album, What The F Is Heavy Metal?, is coming out via Cleopatra. It has no release date yet.
The Songs Performed
The setlist covered classic metal territory. Here’s how it broke down:
- “Crazy Train” — Ozzy Osbourne
- “Ace Of Spades” — Motörhead
- “Enter Sandman” — Metallica
- Three original songs, including one possibly titled “damn old age”
Clips From The Show
Clips from the show are available online. They capture the moment a man who played Captain Kirk decided to play heavy metal instead.
A Man Who Admits He Doesn’t Know Metal
Shatner’s admission is part of the charm. He’s not pretending to be a metal veteran. He’s openly curious about the genre, writing songs in response to what he hears.
That honesty is the heart of the project. A 95-year-old actor who laughs at his own ambition is a rare thing to see on stage.
The Verdict On The Debut
The debut was a success by any measure. Shatner got on stage, played the songs, and laughed about it. That’s the whole story.
The music itself is secondary to the spectacle. Shatner is not trying to reinvent metal. He’s trying to have fun with it.
Key Facts Box
– Debut date: Sept. 19 at Park West, Chicago
– Setlist: Six songs, including covers of “Crazy Train,” “Ace Of Spades,” and “Enter Sandman”
– Original songs: Three, including one possibly titled “damn old age”
– Album: What The F Is Heavy Metal? via Cleopatra, no release date
– Next show: Riot Fest Rebel Stage today
– Booking: Coachella confirmed earlier this summer
The *uckers are a real band with a real debut. Shatner is the frontman, and he’s doing what he wants. That’s the story, and it’s a good one.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.