William Shatner at 95 Ventures into Heavy Metal Music

William Shatner, known for his extensive acting career, is embarking on a new musical journey by fronting a heavy metal band at the age of 95. Shatner, who has released 11 studio albums across various genres, is now exploring heavy metal. In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Shatner shared how Cleopatra Records approached him with the project earlier this year.

I said, ‘What the f— is heavy metal?’ and that’s the title of the album, ‘What the F is Heavy Metal,’ Shatner explained.

Shatner teamed up with Robert Sharenow, his long-time creative collaborator, to craft six original songs for the album. The project also features covers with contributions from over 50 musicians. Among the notable names is Queen’s Brian May, who contributed a guitar solo on a track titled Rage, which includes a line from Dylan Thomas’s poem Do not go gentle into that good night.

Shatner said, All of a sudden, 50 heavy metal musicians volunteered to be on this album.

The musician’s live debut occurred at the Riot Fest in Chicago, where Shatner performed with his new band, The *uckers. The lineup includes musicians such as Marcus Nand, Britt Lightning, Phil Soussan, and Fred Aching. The band played original songs like Rage, Sky, and One Fear, alongside classic heavy metal covers.

Despite suffering from tinnitus and hearing loss, Shatner remains passionate about music. His hearing issues started during the filming of Star Trek. He has since partnered with Audien Hearing to raise awareness about hearing health. Shatner uses hearing aids to enhance his listening experience and manage his hearing loss.

Shatner remains undeterred by his health challenges and continues to work on his heavy metal album. The musician plans to review his recorded tracks and adjust his performance to align with the musicians playing alongside him. The first single from the album is anticipated for release this winter.

As Shatner explores the world of heavy metal, he describes the genre as the beat of life and looks forward to future performances.