William Shatner is to make his live debut with new heavy metal band The *uckers at Riot Fest this September.

The Star Trek legend will take to the stage at Chicago's Douglass Park on September 20, and said of the honour in a statement: "I've always believed that music, like space, is about exploration.

"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."

William also shared his excitement on his Instagram page, telling fans: "This is an event you definitely will be telling your grandchildren about!"

Meanwhile, Riot Fest founder Mike 'Riot Mike' Petryshyn quipped that he had been trying for years to get the 95-year-old to his festival.

He said: "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."

The *uckers features Marcus Nand on guitar, Fred Aching on drums, Britt Lightning on guitar and Phil Soussan on bass.

According to People, the performance will "reimagine songs" from William's back catalogue, as well as debuting tracks from The *uckers' heavy metal album What the F Is Heavy Metal.

William told People: "That's the name of the album because I know nothing or didn't know anything until I found out how little I do know!"

Other performers to take to the stage at Riot Fest this year include Morrissey, Iggy Pop, Sex Pistols, Was, Twenty One Pilots and Patti Smith.

William's Riot Fest debut comes after he made history when he became the oldest person to go up into space when he blasted off on Jeff Bezos' New Shepard NS-18 rocket in October 2021.

However, he had doubts while climbing 11 stories in the gantry to get to the ship opening and noticed gas coming off one of the vents, which he was told was hydrogen. Speaking in conversation with close friend Neil DeGrasse Tyson during their The Universe Is Absurd! event at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Reporter says he added: "So now, with trepidation, I enter the ship and I'm in the chair, a five-point buckle, and the countdown begins.

To add to his nerves, someone in ground control noted there was an "anomaly" and he recalled thinking: "What the f*** is an anomaly?"

The countdown continued and those on board were told: "All right, everybody, we're removing the gantry. Anybody who wants to get off, get off now."

He added: "And I go, OK. And I think, 'I can't, I'm Captain Kirk. I can't.' Shatner described the G-force on the flight as being like an "elephant sitting on your chest … and then suddenly it's off and suddenly you're floating."

Once he unbuckled his seat, he headed straight across tot he window to look out, and when he landed back, he was overcome with emotion. He said: "Jeff Bezos was there with a microphone and international cameras, and I'm weeping. "I'm crying uncontrollably, and I don't know why. [Eventually I realised] that I'm in grief."