William Shatner Forms Heavy Metal Band the Uckers
Actor William Shatner debuts a new metal band featuring collaborations with guitarist Britt Lightning.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Metal
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At 95 years old, William Shatner has formed a heavy metal project called the Uckers. The group combines spoken word vocals with heavy metal instrumentation.
Why it matters
The project signals a shift in the actor's late-career creative pursuits into the metal genre. The collaboration brings together diverse musical backgrounds through a series of guest appearances.
William Shatner is 95 years old and leads the band in a spoken word metal format. The debut album features guest contributions including a track recorded by Vixen guitarist Britt Lightning.
The players
William Shatner
He is a 95-year-old actor who has recently expanded his creative portfolio by fronting a heavy metal band.
Britt Lightning
She is a guitarist for the band Vixen who contributed to a track on the debut album of the Uckers.
The details
The band, known as the Uckers, has already performed live shows in Chicago. The recording process relied on collaborations with various guest artists to flesh out the heavy metal instrumentation behind Shatner's vocals.
Timeline
Britt Lightning discussed the project in an interview in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project follows a pattern established by the 2011 release of William Shatner's Seeking Major Tom album. The move reflects a broader trend of veteran entertainers exploring experimental and niche musical genres outside of their primary professional domains.
Fans can look forward to the upcoming release of the debut album which features the collaboration with Britt Lightning. Following their Chicago performances, there is potential for additional live shows as expressed by participating artists.
The takeaway
This band showcases how unconventional collaborations can bridge the gap between traditional acting and heavy metal subcultures. Listeners can expect a unique fusion of vocal styles when the full project arrives.
Further reading
Explore more developments in the scene on our Metal section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPVI.
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