1997
Posted on 02/20/2026 12:18:33 PM PST by nickcarraway
The ‘Star Trek’ alum called the album a ‘gathering of forces.’
Are you ready to join Captain Kirk—aka William Shatner—to boldly headbang where no one has headbanged before?
Shatner, 94, announced on Feb. 19 that he will soon release a heavy metal album on Cleopatra Records. The project, whose title or release date hasn’t been revealed, will pair the Star Trek alum with 35 handpicked metal icons.
“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” said Shatner in a statement. “This album is a gathering of forces—each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”
Shatner says he was inspired to tackle this after working with Nuclear Messiah, a metal supergroup led by former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. Shatner recorded a spoken-word intro for their upcoming album, Black Flame. The experience was transcendent for the sci-fi icon.
“When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked,” he said. “It wasn’t just a track—it was a doorway. It made me want to go all the way in, bring in the best metal players I could find, and create something fearless.”
The album will feature covers of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs, alongside a few originals. “I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction,” Shatner said. “Now I am stepping out into the unknown once again with my new project in heavy metal… The whole project is destined for this year. I hope you will join me in the exploration.”
Though William Shatner will forever be celebrated as one of television’s greatest actors, he has also a lengthy career as a recording artist. He released his first spoken-word album, The Transformed Man, in 1968.
However, when it comes to music, he’s best known for his performance of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” at the 1978 Saturn Awards. While wearing a ruffled tuxedo shirt and bow tie, Shatner seemingly smoked a cigarette while dramatically reciting the song’s lyrics. Through late-70s television technology, multiple Shatners joined in for a performance that was high art and pure camp.
His other notable releases have been 2004’s Has Been, which featured Henry Rollins, Ben Folds, Adrian Belew, Aimee Mann and Joe Jackson. Shatner’s cover of Pulp’s “Common People” was an early 2000s radio oddity.
In 2011, Shatner released Seeking Major Tom, an album that mixed rock and spoken word. It also featured performances by Zakk Wydle, Sheryl Crow, Alan Parsons, Peter Frampton, Bootsy Collins, Brad Paisley, and Ritchie Blackmore.
He really is living his best life. This is him replying to a Musk post the other day, it’s hilarious.
https://x.com/WilliamShatner/status/2023214563815305216?s=20
I’m looking forward to bids spoken singing style. Major Tom was awesome!
You ever get the feeling that Shatner has a zest for life?
Shatner and Eastwood don’t seem to own any calendars.
He still buys green bananas.
1997
I follow him on X and in the middle of the night he would start interacting with his fans. The man is totally mentally there and wonderful. I was a Spock fan, but I guess I’m more a Shatner fan, too.
Star Trek - Secondhand News - Fleetwood Mac - streaming from my website
https://iment.com/maida/tv/st/video/Star-Trek-Secondhand-News-Fleetwood-Mac.htm
Unlike Mr Sulu.
Ahhhahahahahahahaha! Too much! Makes me like him even more...:)
Thanks, but is show’s Whoopi, I try not to watch things with PDF’rs in it. Some of Next gen has been ruined for me.
Hahaha...never watched a single episode of the new Star Trek, and when I began watching the video, I thought “That guy looks familiar...” but I couldn’t place his face.
I had to smirk at myself when I realized who it was.
“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” said Shatner in a statement. “This album is a gathering of forces—each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”
Shatner says he was inspired to tackle this after working with Nuclear Messiah...>>>
“When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked,” he said. “It wasn’t just a track—it was a doorway. It made me want to go all the way in, bring in the best metal players I could find, and create something fearless.”
The album will feature covers of Black Sabbath...
Just sayin'. 🙃 😃 😇 🤣
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(Back to the Beginning!)
He only talks, never sings his “songs”. I wonder what spoken heavy metal sounds like?
Another bucket list item?
Will Shat!
..."for zero point six eight seconds, sir...
....for an android... that is nearly an eternity"
“…create something fearless.”
That is the word when it comes to The Shats recordings.
“The album will feature covers of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs, alongside a few originals.” That’s heavy William.
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