Captain Kirk is releasing a metal album with huge names in the field.
Photo: Avalon
William Shatner is diving headfirst into the world of heavy metal with a new album that brings together some of the genre’s most recognisable musicians.
The 94‑year‑old screen icon — best known for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek — has confirmed he is working on a project that blends metal covers with original material, all performed alongside a hand‑picked roster of rock and metal veterans.
Shatner announced the record through a statement from his team, teasing a release later this year.
While the album remains untitled for now, the actor says the project is built around the energy and imagination that metal has always represented for him. He explained that each guest was chosen for their individuality and intensity, describing the record as a chance to explore a new creative frontier.
The actor revealed that the tracklist will include his interpretations of songs by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, alongside newly written material developed with his collaborators.
He said: “I’ve spent my life exploring different worlds, both real and fictional.
“This album is another step into the unknown.”
The guest list reads like a cross‑section of rock history. Zakk Wylde, known for his long association with Ozzy Osbourne and his work with Black Label Society, is among the contributors. Henry Rollins, the former Black Flag frontman, also appears, along with Ritchie Blackmore, Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream, and Wayne Kramer of MC5.
Each musician brings their own legacy and style to the project, creating a line‑up that spans several generations of heavy music.
Although Shatner’s leap into metal may surprise some, it isn’t entirely out of character. He has released a number of spoken‑word and musical projects over the decades, including the cult‑famous rendition of Elton John’s Rocket Man.
His friendship with Wylde goes back years, and the pair previously worked together on Shatner’s 2011 album Seeking Major Tom, which also featured appearances from Michael Schenker, Ian Paice and Carmine Appice.
Shatner continued experimenting with genre on 2013’s prog LP Ponder the Mystery, which included contributions from Steve Vai and members of Yes, Hawkwind and The Doors. His most recent release was 2024’s Where Will The Animals Sleep? Songs For Kids and Other Living Things, a children’s album that showed a very different side of his musical personality.