William Shatner Ventures into Heavy Metal at 95

William Shatner is certainly keeping busy. At the age of 95, he’s gearing up to lead a heavy metal band—definitely not what you’d expect from a Star Trek icon. Throughout his career, he’s dabbled in music, releasing an impressive 11 studio albums across various genres, including spoken word, rock, progressive rock, Christmas tunes, and even country.

In a recent chat, Shatner spoke about his collaboration with Audien Hearing, a hearing aid company. They approached him about creating a heavy metal album. His initial reaction? Confusion, as he put it: “What the f— is heavy metal?” This pretty much sums up his surprise at the genre.

“What the F is Heavy Metal” is, in fact, the title of his forthcoming album. Shatner collaborated with his long-time friend and author Robert Sharenow for this project, a partnership they’ve fostered over several albums filled with autobiographical lyrics and spoken-word pieces.

They penned six songs together, and Shatner shared that it’s not just about the originals. The album will also feature covers and contributions from over 50 musicians. “We’ve got one track titled, well, you can guess it, called ‘What the F is Heavy Metal,’” he mentioned, noting that about 50 heavy metal artists jumped at the chance to be involved.

Among these musicians is Queen’s Brian May, who contributed a guitar solo to a track called “Rage.” This piece includes a nod to the well-known poem by Dylan Thomas, reflecting on the idea of fighting against the inevitable.

Shatner’s foray into heavy metal kicked off with a performance at Riot Fest in Chicago. The festival organizers had attempted to book him for over a decade, finally succeeding this year. The band, referred to with a cheeky name—The *uckers—is comprised of notable musicians including guitarist Marcus Nand, bassist Phil Soussan, and drummer Fred Aching. Shatner remarked, “They assembled an amazing group of artists for this.”

Post-performance, he expressed delight at the overwhelmingly positive response. It was a significant moment for him, validating the idea behind his project: the energy of metal is alive and well, even for someone his age.

After his experience with The *uckers and the creation of the album, Shatner feels like he’s found his answer to that heavy metal question: “It is the beat of life. It enlivens your existence.” He’s also looking at classic tracks with a refreshing perspective. Take, for instance, his rendition of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” He emphasizes the darker aspects of its lyrics rather than just treating it as a comforting lullaby.

Despite the noise of heavy metal, Shatner’s journey touches on a personal note. He’s been open about his struggles with tinnitus, a condition he’s dealt with since his time filming Star Trek, when an explosion scene led to permanent ringing in his ears. Nowadays, while performing, he copes with the louder sounds; it’s a delicate balance between creating music and managing his hearing health.

Shatner plans to continue his heavy metal endeavor, mentioning that while the tracks are recorded, he intends to go back and see how they mesh with the musicians, especially in the realm of tempo and style. He enthusiastically predicts the album will make waves in the heavy metal community.

Look out for the first single from “What the F is Heavy Metal” set to drop this winter. With collaborations from many renowned artists, including May, Shatner is diving headfirst into a genre that, in many ways, seems totally unexpected.