After announcing that he’ll be playing Riot Fest in September, 95-year-old William Shatner has unveiled an outrageous list of rider demands that puts classic-era Van Halen to shame. Shatner’s ready to bring the metal to the three-day Chicago festival, as he has confirmed that he’ll be playing on Sunday, September 20th, with his metal backing The the *uckers.
Among his outrageous requests are having a boat renamed in his honor so he can captain a ship again; being invited to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at a Chicago Cubs game; having an intro video created by GWARS; and being transported around in a DeLorean instead of a golf cart.
Rider Demands
But that’s not all. His backstage demands are pretty wild, too, including naming his dressing room “Shatner’s Shag Shack”; four feet of Polish sausage; a Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater autographed by John Stamos; eight pallets of Faygo (not to be shared with Insane Clown Posse); and an assortment of adoptable puppies.
William Shatner stated of his upcoming performance, “I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration,” says William Shatner. “Riot Fest is exactly the kind of place where anything can happen. We’re bringing volume, intensity, and a few surprises. I can’t wait to share this experience with the fans.”
Riot Fest founder co-founder Mike “Riot Mike” Petryshyn added, “After years of persistently — and perhaps annoyingly — writing letters to William Shatner about performing at Riot Fest, it appears that he was finally compelled. I for one cannot wait to see Shatner get heavy. But that Shatner Rider… wasn’t expecting that today.”
Shatner will be backed by members of the Nuclear Messiah metal collective, including guitarist and musical director Marcus Nand (Mike Tramp, Candice Night), bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol), guitarist Britt Lightning (Vixen, Cactus), and drummer Fred Aching (Kings of Thrash, Dead Groove, Fraxures).
Upcoming Album
The Star Trek star continues to work on a heavy metal album for Cleopatra Records with a cast of all-star contributors. Among the tracks announced for the collection are covers of Judas Priest classics “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” (featuring Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford) and “Living After Midnight” (featuring drummer Mikkey Dee of Motörhead and Scorpions).
Riot Fest will take place September 18th-20th at Douglass Park in Chicago, with tickets available here. Among the other acts set to perform during the three-day fest are Tool, Twenty One Pilots, Pierce the Veil, Alanis Morissette, Morrissey, Iggy Pop, Pixies, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, and more.
In conclusion, William Shatner is set to bring his unique brand of metal to Riot Fest this September, with a list of rider demands that is sure to entertain. With his upcoming performance and new album, Shatner is proving that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. Fans of Star Trek and heavy metal alike won’t want to miss this opportunity to see Shatner take the stage and bring the house down.
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