WILLIAM SHATNER Says His Heavy Metal Album Will Be Called 'What The F Is Heavy Metal?'

In a new interview with Michael Moynihan of The Moynihan Report, "Star Trek" legend William Shatner confirmed that he is working on a heavy metal album. The project, which is being driven by a heavyweight production team led by Adam Hamilton (L.A. GUNS, BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE) and Brian Perera, president of Cleopatra Records, with additional production from Derek Hughes (NUCLEAR MESSIAH),Marcus Nand and Jürgen Engler of DIE KRUPPS, will feature guest appearances by several dozen hard rock and heavy metal musicians, including Brian May (QUEEN),Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST),John Moyer (DISTURBED) and Dave Lombardo (SLAYER). The 95-year Shatner will also take the stage with his newly formed heavy metal band, THE *UCKERS, at the Riot Fest on Sunday, September 20 at Chicago’s Douglass Park, marking the group's first-ever live performance.

"I am in a fervor of creativity," Shatner said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I am writing books. I'm doing albums. This heavy metal album is like… They want me to do… I'm gonna do a concert. I'm gonna do 30-minute concert — 30 minutes of heavy metal [laughs], with a band. 30 minutes on stage."

Regarding how the idea for his heavy metal album came about, Shatner said: "Cleopatra, the label that I work with frequently, said to me, 'Why don't you do a heavy metal album?' And I said, 'What the F is heavy metal?' Then I heard 'Patience', the song 'Patience' [by GUNS N' ROSES]. So we write a song called 'Impatience'. 'I'm not gonna wait around for you. I'm not waiting for you. Here, read my lips.' And it's all about, 'I'm not waiting around for you. Yeah. You hear me? You hear my lips? I'm not waiting.' And it's got that kind of rage and tempo… Impassioned. 'I'm tired of old age. I'm tired of losing hair. I'm tired of not eating. I'm tired of catching a cold. I'm tired of being tired. I'm tired!'"

After Moynihan noted that it seems like Shatner "loves the music almost as much as anything else", William said: "The music is a distillation of emotion. It's so right there."

As for his vision of the upcoming heavy metal LP, Shatner said: "The name of the album — I hope; I mean, everybody agrees —is 'What The F Is Heavy Metal?' That's the name of the album."

Shatner explained that he knows "nothing" about heavy metal. "You gotta start with the premise that I really know nothing," he said. "I'm inquisitive. Apparently, I'm inquisitive, and I'm reading and looking up all the time, stuff. So I began to experiment. I fastened on to emotions. I thought heavy metal has gotta be about emotions — violent, passionate… Not violent — passionate emotions. 'The Black Sky' is about what we're doing to the planet. 'Impatience' — don't keep me waiting. 'Rage'. Five songs with meaning to me. I'm enraged, I'm angry about, I am disgusted with."

Asked if he still actually has rage at his age, Shatner responded: "Oh, yeah. I wanna get on my horse and run the way I used to. My legs don't have the strength that they once had, so I'm careful. I don't wanna be careful. These albums that I have written with Rob [Shatner's longtime friend and collaborator Robert Sharenow] are all personal. They all have to do with my growth."

As for whether there any heavy metal artists that he likes, Shatner said: "I don't know. 'Cause I don't know their names. Brian May plucks an anguished guitar. It's crazed. And it moves me. There are 50 well-known heavy metal geniuses who wanna be on the album, led by Brian May. Why? Brian May laid his track down over a song that Rob [Sharenow] and I wrote called 'Rage'. 'Rage against the dying of the light,' to use that — what's his name's phrase. That's the name of the song, and we'll make it into a music video."

For Shatner, this is not a novelty move — it is a full-scale artistic statement. At 95, he is leaning into the power, danger and drama of heavy music with the same sense of commitment and conviction that has defined his career across film, television, spoken word and music.

This album finds him channeling something raw and primal: the shock of volume, the force of rhythm and the emotional charge that made heavy music a permanent cultural force.

Shatner is also setting out to do something virtually unprecedented — uniting an all-time cast of rock and metal superstars for a single album built on ambition, scale and genuine musical chemistry. The result is a project designed not just to surprise listeners, but to hit with real authority.

Fueled by massive musicianship and a shared appetite for sonic risk, the album blends Shatner's commanding vocal presence with the crushing energy of top-tier players and producers who understand how to make heavy music feel cinematic, physical and alive. It reaches back to the spirit of the era when music felt dangerous and larger than life, while pushing forward with a modern intensity all its own.

Shatner has said he feels this music in his bones — as something shattering, youthful and alive — reconnecting him with the visceral thrill of a time when things got truly heavy. That spirit runs through the entire project, which aims to deliver not just star power, but impact.

With additional guest appearances still under wraps, the album is quickly emerging as a major crossover moment: part metal event record, part artistic left turn, and entirely unmistakable in its vision.

More details, including the album title, release date, and additional featured artists, will be announced soon.

William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 70 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood's most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist.

In 1966, Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the television series "Star Trek". The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the "Star Trek" movies, one of which he directed.

Shatner played the title role in the hit television series "T.J. Hooker" before hosting television's first reality-based series, "Rescue 911".

He won Emmys and his first Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer Denny Crane on both "The Practice" and "Boston Legal". He received four more Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods.

Shatner's love of music inspired him to record the critically acclaimed album "Has Been". The Milwaukee Ballet performed "Common People", a dance presentation set to several numbers from the record; the event and its preparations are featured in the documentary "Gonzo Ballet", which played to sold-out houses at film festivals worldwide.

In September 2021, Shatner released the autobiographical album titled "Bill" with tracks featuring Joe Jonas, Brad Paisley and Joe Walsh, to name a few. In October 2020, "The Blues" album quickly reached No. 1 on Billbord's Blues chart. Shatner previously released the country music album "Why Not Me", in August 2018 with Jeff Cook and Heartland Records. Quickly following that, Shatner experienced much success with "Shatner Clause", a holiday album released in October 2018 which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard chart.

Off the screen and broadcast waves, Shatner has authored nearly 30 best-sellers in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. His autobiography, "Up Till Now", was a New York Times best-seller and was followed by "Shatner Rules", which was released in October 2011. William Shatner's book "Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship With A Remarkable Man", was released in February 2016, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list. Shatner's released "Live Long And…What I Might Have Learned Along The Way" in September 2018 and "Boldly Go", a fascinating and timely collection of essays in which Shatner reflects on key events from his 90-years of life, was released in October 2022.

In April 2011, Shatner launched his hugely popular one-man show, "Shatner's World", on Broadway. He toured in Australia and New Zealand, followed by tours in Canada and over 50 cities in the United States.

Shatner has been successful in another area — horse breeding. A longtime dedicated breeder of American Quarter horses, he has had enormous success with the American Saddlebred, developing and riding world champions and has won numerous world championships in several equine events. His passions for horses and philanthropy were united when he started the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which benefits Los Angeles-based children's charities.

Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Photo credit: Manfred Baumann