{"id":8520,"date":"2026-07-17T10:04:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T05:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=8520"},"modified":"2026-07-17T10:04:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T05:04:50","slug":"star-trek-icon-william-shatner-baffles-fans-as-he-makes-bizarre-career-pivot-at-95","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=8520","title":{"rendered":"Star Trek icon William Shatner baffles fans as he makes bizarre career pivot at 95"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"js-article-text\" wp_automatic_readability=\"87.680672268908\">\n<p class=\"author-section byline-plain\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/profile-3201\/adam-s-levy.html\" class=\"author\">ADAM S. LEVY, US SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n<p class=\"byline-section\"><span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-published\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Published:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2026-07-17T05:58:48+0100\"> 00:58 EDT, 17 July 2026 <\/time> <\/span> | <span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Updated:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2026-07-17T06:01:17+0100\"> 01:01 EDT, 17 July 2026 <\/time> <\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/us\/tvshowbiz\/none\/article\/other\/para_top.html --> <!-- CWV --><link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-design-system\/latest\/designTokens.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/><!--[if !IE]><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-async-bundle\/11.89.0\/articleDefer.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<![endif]--> <!--[if IE]>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/registration--.css\" media=\"screen\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.5.1\/registration--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<![endif]--><!--[if IE]>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/all-ie8-9--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/all1-ie8-9--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-sync-bundle\/16.12.0\/desktop.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.5.1\/all--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/><link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.5.1\/all1--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<![endif]--> <!--[if IE 8]>\n\n<![endif]--> <!--[if IE 9]>\n\n<![endif]--> <!--[if IE]>\n\n<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]> -->  <!--<![endif]--><!-- SiteCatalyst code version: H.20.3.\n    Copyright 1997-2009 Omniture, Inc. More info available at\n    http:\/\/www.omniture.com -->  <\/p>\n<p>         <!-- End SiteCatalyst code version: H.20.3. -->  <!--[if IE]>\n\n<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]> -->   <!--<![endif]--><!--[if IE]>\n  \n  <noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/gunther-2159\/video_bundle--.css\"><\/noscript>\n  \n<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]> --> <link rel=\"preload\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/videoplayer\/7.18.0\/styles\/mol-fe-videoplayer.min.css\" as=\"style\" onload=\"this.rel=\" stylesheet=\"\" \/> <noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/videoplayer\/7.18.0\/styles\/mol-fe-videoplayer.min.css\" \/><\/noscript>  <!-- <![endif]-->   <!-- CWV --><\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\" wp_automatic_readability=\"74.32570494483\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The announcement that Star Trek icon <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/tvshowbiz\/william-shatner\/index.html\" id=\"mol-bb7f39e0-819a-11f1-aa67-6182def9220d\">William Shatner<\/a> would be playing at this year&#8217;s Riot Fest music festival threw fans for a loop.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The 95-year-old actor was announced by the festival as a performer for the festival, as he will be fronting his band The *uckers during a show slated for September 20 at Douglass Park in <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/news\/chicago\/index.html\" id=\"mol-bb89c130-819a-11f1-aa67-6182def9220d\">Chicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Montreal native was seen in a clip in which he confirmed his foray into the new musical venture in the Windy City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Riot fest fans, Shatner here, I&#8217;ve been dinking around, found all those letters you sent me, &#8216; Shatner said. &#8216;And I&#8217;ve decided, you&#8217;re such big fans of mine, that I&#8217;m gonna debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;And I hope you&#8217;re there, and I hope I&#8217;m there. And I hope that you have my rider, and yes, don&#8217;t forget, my bowl of sauerkraut, if you please.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Shatner for further comment on the story.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-551b878a878b889a\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/17\/05\/110076727-15984271-The_announcement_that_Star_Trek_icon_William_Shatner_would_be_pl-a-33_1784264307837.jpg\" height=\"356\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The announcement that Star Trek icon William Shatner would be playing at this year's Riot Fest music festival threw fans for a loop.\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The announcement that Star Trek icon William Shatner would be playing at this year&#8217;s Riot Fest music festival threw fans for a loop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-bcc6a4595fb8eff1\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/17\/05\/110076721-15984271-image-a-26_1784263288551.jpg\" height=\"793\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The actor played Captain James T. Kirk on the famed TV series from 1966-1969\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The actor played Captain James T. Kirk on the famed TV series from 1966-1969\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The festival confirmed Shatner&#8217;s involvement on its Instagram on Thursday with what appeared to be an AI photo of Shatner in a black rock outfit making a horns signal with a guitar in hand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;After years of writing letters\u2026 Riot Fest 2026: Now with 100% more williamshatner, with his heavy metal band The *uckers,&#8217; the festival said. &#8216;Appearing Sunday. Tickets on sale now.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A number of fans commented on the actor&#8217;s foray onto the stage, with one writing, &#8216;A 95 year old man doing heavy metal at Riot Fest, damn lol.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Another commenter referenced other actors who have gotten into music, saying, &#8216;Stamos in 25, Shatner in 26\u2026Johnny Depp and Hollywood Vampires in 27?&#8217;<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-50da1fd96430d12a\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/17\/05\/110076729-15984271-The_festival_confirmed_Shatner_s_involvement_on_its_Instagram_on-a-31_1784264291068.jpg\" height=\"789\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The festival confirmed Shatner's involvement on its Instagram on Thursday with what appeared to be an AI photo of Shatner in a black rock outfit making a horns signal with a guitar in hand\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The festival confirmed Shatner&#8217;s involvement on its Instagram on Thursday with what appeared to be an AI photo of Shatner in a black rock outfit making a horns signal with a guitar in hand\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-e1cccce53dbe339a\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/17\/05\/110076725-15984271-Shatner_is_set_to_play_the_third_day_of_the_festival_which_featu-a-32_1784264297776.jpg\" height=\"794\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Shatner is set to play the third day of the festival, which features Alanis Morissette and Pierce The Veil\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Shatner is set to play the third day of the festival, which features Alanis Morissette and Pierce The Veil\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">One person referenced some of Shatner&#8217;s past musical work, in a cover of the Pulp classic Common People.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;His version of Common People is amazing,&#8217; the user said. &#8216;Very cool Riot Fest.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Said one fan: &#8216;I\u2019ve never been more excited about a thing I never knew existed.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Other comments included, &#8216;Aye Aye Captain,&#8217; &#8216;This is everything,&#8217; and &#8216;U got the best agent WS.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/us\/tvshowbiz\/none\/article\/other\/inread_player.html --><\/p>\n<div class=\"column-content cleared\">\n<div class=\"shareArticles\">\n<h3 class=\"social-links-title\">Share or comment on this article:<br \/>\n                        Star Trek icon William Shatner baffles fans as he makes bizarre career pivot at 95<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <ad-slot position=\"smart_feed\"><\/ad-slot><\/p>\n<p>            <ad-slot position=\"after_article\"><\/ad-slot><\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By ADAM S. LEVY, US SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER Published: 00:58 EDT, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 01:01 EDT, 17 July 2026 The announcement that Star Trek icon William Shatner would be playing at this year&#8217;s Riot Fest music festival threw fans for a loop. The 95-year-old actor was announced by the festival as a performer&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/17\/05\/110076727-15984271-The_announcement_that_Star_Trek_icon_William_Shatner_would_be_pl-a-33_1784264307837.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}