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William Shatner Rocks Riot Fest, Debuts New Metal Album

7/17/2026

Summary

Shatner Rocks Riot

William Shatner will perform with his band The *uckers at Riot Fest on Sept. 20, 2026, in Douglass Park, Chicago.
The set will reimagine his catalog and preview his forthcoming heavy-metal album.
The three-day lineup (Sept. 18-20) includes Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Alanis Morissette, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop.
Ticket prices range from $99.98 for a single day to $339.98 for the three-day pass.

Summary

Riot Fest Demands

Riot Fest issued a mock rider asking Chicago to rename a boat and let him co-anchor the weather.
Founder Mike “Riot Mike” Petryshyn said booking Shatner required a decade of letters, echoing the 2025 effort that landed John Stamos.
The festival says the rider, which also demands fire-breathers, a GWAR video and a DeLorean golf cart, is a playful stunt promising “volume, intensity and a few surprises” for September 18-20.

Summary

Shatner Announces Metal

William Shatner announced his forthcoming metal album at the 52nd Annual Saturn Awards on February 02, 2025 in Universal City, California.
The album will cover Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs, with Rob Halford guesting on “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.”
Shatner called the music exploration and said Riot Fest will provide volume, intensity and surprises.
Full track listing, other guest artists and the release date remain undisclosed.

History

Historical Context

The original Woodstock Music & Art Fair, organized by Michael Lang and partners, ran August 15-18 1969 on Max Yasgurs’ farm in Bethel, New York, drawing over 460,000 people and becoming the emblem of 1960s counterculture. Its massive, free-spirited vibe and enduring media legacy have inspired later festivals to borrow its name and spectacle, a strategy evident in Chicago’s 2026 Riot Fest lineup featuring William Shatner.

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Shatner Rocks Riot

William Shatner will perform with his band The *uckers at Riot Fest on Sept. 20, 2026, in Douglass Park, Chicago.
The set will reimagine his catalog and preview his forthcoming heavy-metal album.
The three-day lineup (Sept. 18-20) includes Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Alanis Morissette, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop.
Ticket prices range from $99.98 for a single day to $339.98 for the three-day pass.

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