William Shatner has been exploring the possibility of bringing his all-star heavy metal project to the live stage.
A new press release states, “Having assembled one of the most ambitious gatherings of heavy metal royalty ever gathered for a single recording project, William Shatner is now exploring the possibility of taking his acclaimed Heavy Metal album to the stage for a live event unlike anything audiences have seen before.”
The press release adds, “Part concert, part theatrical experience, and part celebration of heavy metal’s enduring power and legacy, the proposed production would transform Shatner’s star-studded recording project into an immersive live spectacle combining legendary musicians, cinematic visuals, storytelling, and the larger-than-life charisma that has made Shatner a global icon for more than six decades.”
Meanwhile, the 95-year-old Shatner has revealed that drummer Mikkey Dee of Motörhead and Scorpions fame is the latest big-name metal musician to sign on for the Star Trek star’s as-yet-untitled heavy metal album, announced back in February.
Dee is contributing to a cover of Judas Priest’s “Living After Midnight,” which would be at least the second Judas Priest cover after the confirmation of “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” featuring Rob Halford.
Shatner stated, “I needed pounding beats to make the music feel the way I feel it. The drums drive the emotion. They create the urgency, the excitement, the danger. Heavy metal should hit you in the chest and move your soul at the same time.”
The list of drummers currently announced for the project also includes Dave Lombardo (Slayer, The Misfits), Chris Adler (ex-Lamb of God, ex-Megadeth), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus), Kenny Aronoff (Steve Vai, Sammy Hagar), Simon Wright (AC/DC, UFO), Bobby Rondinelli (Blue Öyster Cult, Quiet Riot), Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Joe Lynn Turner), Steve Zing (Danzig, Samhain, Mourning Noise), and Fred Aching (Kings of Thrash, Nuclear Messiah, Fraxures). This is on top of the already announced all-star list of guitarists featured on the project.
