At Age 94 William Shatner Announces He is Boldly Exploring… Metal?
William Shatner has decided to boldly go full metal at 94 years old. Let that sink in. That’s a plot twist even the most creative sci-fi writer couldn’t have predicted. The legendary “Star Trek” icon just announced he’s putting together a heavy metal album, and it sounds like exactly the kind of beautifully unhinged project the world needs right now. Beam us up.
The Captain Kirk Of Metal Has Arrived
Here’s the thing about Shatner – the man has never been one to play it safe. From his dramatic spoken-word performances to his surprisingly deep musical catalog, he’s built a career on defying expectations. But a full-blown heavy metal album featuring covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden? That’s taking “boldly going where no one has gone before” to a freakin’ whole new level. Horns up!
“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner explained in a statement to Blabbermouth. “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.”
And he’s not just dabbling here. This project features 35 handpicked metal musicians, each one personally selected by Shatner himself. We’re talking about serious players like Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime guitarist and Black Label Society frontman), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), and more. This isn’t some novelty cash-grab – it’s a legitimate collaboration with some of the most respected names in heavy music.
How This Metal Madness Started
The origin story of this album is almost as entertaining as the concept itself. Shatner’s dive into the metal world began with his work on Nuclear Messiah’s upcoming album Black Flame, where he voiced an intro piece created with Chris Poland, the ex-Megadeth guitarist. That collaboration apparently lit a fire under him (pun absolutely intended).
Adding fuel to the fire was a personal gift from Zakk Wylde – an actual guitar. Shatner described the gesture as “deeply motivating,” which is kinda adorable when you imagine a 94-year-old actor getting pumped up about making metal music because someone gave him a guitar.
This Isn’t William Shatner’s First Musical Rodeo
Before anyone starts making jokes about Shatner randomly jumping on the metal bandwagon, let’s get one thing straight: the man has musical history. His 1968 debut album The Transformed Man established his signature dramatic spoken-word style. Fast forward to 2011, and he released Seeking Major Tom, an album of rock covers that included – wait for it – a version of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” featuring Zakk Wylde. So this new heavy metal album isn’t coming completely out of… the left universe.
He followed that up with Ponder the Mystery in 2013, a prog-rock concept album produced by Billy Sherwood of Yes. The guy has worked with everyone from Wayne Kramer (MC5) to Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream). He’s been in the rock and metal space for years; we just probably weren’t paying close enough attention.
What To Expect From The Album
Details are still relatively scarce – no official title, tracklist, or release date has been announced yet – but we do know a few key things. The album will feature covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, alongside original material written specifically for this project. And with 35 metal musicians involved, you can bet this is going to be massive in scope. Per Metal-Stop, Shatner stated:
“I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction… 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.”
The album is being released through Cleopatra Records and is slated for a 2026 release. Given Shatner’s track record of bringing theatrical intensity to everything he touches, combined with the caliber of musicians he’s assembled, this could actually be something special – or at the very least, wildly entertaining.
Why This Actually Makes Sense
On paper, a 94-year-old William Shatner making a heavy metal album sounds ridiculous. But when you think about it, metal has always been about theatricality, storytelling, and pushing boundaries. Shatner has spent his entire career doing exactly that, just in different mediums. His spoken-word delivery style actually pairs surprisingly well with metal’s dramatic, over-the-top nature. Remember, he’s not trying to be Bruce Dickinson – he’s bringing his own unique flavor and style to the genre, and that’s what makes it interesting.
Is this the weirdest music news of 2026 so far? Definitely. Is it also kind of brilliant? Also yep. William Shatner making a heavy metal album at 94 is peak “I’m going to do whatever I want” energy, and we love it. Whether this ends up being a legitimate artistic statement or just a gloriously chaotic experiment, it’s certainly going to be memorable.
