‘Star Trek’ legend launches a heavy metal band; Las Vegas is in the mix

William Shatner has a new heavy metal band. His bassist is veteran rocker and Las Vegas resident Phil Soussan.

William Shatner is boldly going where no man has gone before. At least, no 95-year-old man.

The fabled Captain Kirk is entering a new phase(r) of his illustrious career as front man of a new heavy metal band. The name is *uckers. This outfit premieres Sunday at “Riot Fest” at Chicago’s Douglass Park.

The onetime foe of Khan Noonien Singh has put it all together. His band closes the three-day festival, which includes Iggy Pop, Pixies, Tool, Morrissey, Nas, Pierce the Veil, Alanis Morissette and Elvis Costello & The Imposters.

Vegas is repped by bass great (and admitted Trekker) Phil Soussan, who lives here. Soussan famously backed Ozzy Osbourne on his “Original Sin” album. Soussan co-wrote Ozzy’s hit “Shot in The Dark.”

“I’m excited to play with one my childhood heroes,” Soussan says. “I was a huge ‘Star Trek’ fan, so this is kind of a bucket list type of event.”

Shatner, as is customary, is prepped for takeoff.

“I have explored space. I have explored time,” he said on social media. “Now … I explore distortion.”

Soussan joins his longtime friend, guitarist and music director Macus Nand (who has worked with Mike Tramp and Candice Night), guitarist Britt Lightning of Vixen and Fred Aching (Kings of Thrash, Dead Groove).

The 65-year-old Soussan has also toured and recorded with Billy Idol, the Vince Neil Band, John Waite, Last in Line (created by the original members of Dio) and and Johnny Hallyday.

Shatner has more than just a one-off in this musical trek. A new album, titled “What The F Is Heavy Metal,” is in the offing, from Cleopatra Records. The new release is to include covers of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a few originals.

A total of 35 “metal virtuosos,” as Shatner shares, are taking part. Brian May of Queen; Sebastian Bach, late of Skid Row and more recently Twisted Sister; and Rob Halford of Judas Priest are reportedly on board.

As the Shatner said, “Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud. Each artist brings their precision, their fire, their chaos.” Be prepared for a real Vulcan mind meld.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.

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