William Shatner Debuts Heavy Metal Set, Says He Finally ‘Understands’ the Genre

William Shatner, 95, took the stage at Chicago's Riot Fest on Sept. 20 for his first live heavy metal performance. The short set, with his band The Fuckers, included spoken-word covers of Metallica's "Enter Sandman," Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train," and Motörhead's "Ace of Spades," plus three original songs. The performance comes as Shatner prepares a new solo record titled What the F Is Heavy Metal?, currently in production.

How he prepared and why he approached it this way

Shatner described two months of preparation using a scratch track on his phone to rehearse entrances and exits. He said that counting down is essential for fitting into heavy metal because "only by counting down do you know where to come in on heavy metal because it all sounds alike." He had his first rehearsal with The Fuckers the day before the Riot Fest performance and reported that the setup "is working."

His description of heavy metal and his artistic angle

Shatner said he has "come to understand what heavy metal is — it's an energy that permeates your body and lifts you up. Heavy metal is the rhythm of life. It's overwhelming, especially if you've got earphones in." He used that energy as the rationale for a spoken-word, interpretive approach rather than attempting to replicate the original vocal styles.

Notable reinterpretation: "Enter Sandman"

He compared performing live to an actor's fears: forgetting lines is like being naked onstage, and being laughed offstage is a central concern. Shatner said he'll have help with lines via equipment and that he's poised between being laughed offstage and being lauded. Despite that, he called himself "so enlivened" and "filled with passion" about the project.

Shatner is working on the album What the F Is Heavy Metal? and appears to be using live shows like Riot Fest as early tests of his concept. The Riot Fest set included both reinterpretations of heavy metal classics and original material, suggesting the album will follow a similar mix.

If you're tracking genre crossovers or unconventional interpretations of classic metal tracks, Shatner's Riot Fest debut shows a deliberate, rehearsed spoken-word approach anchored in theatrical reinterpretation rather than imitation. His preparations and public comments indicate he expects the project to be more affective energy than sonic replication.