William Shatner Talks Going Metal for Riot Fest & His Unusual Interpretation of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’

William Shatner’s list of lifetime accomplishments is very long. Yes, there is his acting career. He is also an entertaining guest speaker, as he proved again on Aug. 9 at the annual Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, engaging enthralled fans for over an hour. Lately, he’s been working on his 13th album, continuing a discography that stretches back to his 1968 debut, The Transformed Man.

This weekend, he adds another item to his résumé, with performances at Riot Fest, Chicago’s annual music festival with an emphasis on punk rock. The legendary entertainer will preview six songs from his forthcoming album, What the F Is Heavy Metal?

Shatner and his band the *uckers join a roster that includes Iggy Pop, Social Distortion, Patti Smith, Elvis Costello, Tool, Morrissey, Bad Religion and Alanis Morissette. It may sound like Shatner is doing this as a joke, but he assures Billboard that he is not.

After Shatner recorded albums of blues, progressive rock, country, Americana and Christmas songs, Brian Perera — founder of Shatner’s label home Cleopatra — suggested he tackle heavy metal.

“I said, ‘What the f–k is heavy metal?’ and that’s the title of the album: What the F Is Heavy Metal?” Shatner explains. “Then I began to discover what the f–k is heavy metal. I’ve been preparing for two months now, on a scratch track on my phone doing the entrances and exits, which is only visible to a trained musician. Only by counting down do you know where to come in on heavy metal because it all sounds alike. Yesterday I had my first rehearsal with the *uckers and it’s working and it’s going to be fantastic. It’s going to be extraordinary.”

Shatner will perform six songs from the album at Riot Fest – three originals written by Shatner and his longtime writing partner Rob Sharenow, and three covers, including Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Music tracks for the album have already been recorded, and Shatner will go into the studio sometime this winter to lay down his vocals. “We’ve got 50 musicians on a heavy metal album. It’s a happening that nobody could have thought of six months ago and after that rehearsal yesterday and the ensuing fervor of everybody there, it’s as good as we think it is. It may even be better.”

Speaking to Billboard just before going to his second rehearsal with the *uckers, the 95-year-old declares, “I’m so enlivened. I’m so filled with passion. I’ve come to understand what heavy metal is. It’s an energy that permeates your body and lifts you up. Heavy metal is the rhythm of life. It’s overwhelming, especially if you’ve got earphones in. This afternoon, I’m going to have earbuds that have been made for me and the rest of the group. I’m so excited about what I’m performing. It’s a real-life fervor happening for me.”

Shatner’s acting career will play a big part in his onstage performance in Chicago, but that may not be the advantage one would think it is. “Imagine the fear of the actor. The actor’s nightmare is being naked and not remembering your lines. Well, I’m going to be dressed and I’ll have help with the lines in the equipment. But the other part of that nightmare is being laughed offstage. ‘Oh, what is he doing?’ I’m poised between being laughed off the stage and being lauded. This is new, this is exciting, this is heavy metal like it’s never been heard before because I’m reinterpreting.

“Even the cover songs, I’m reinterpreting. For example, my interpretation of ‘Enter Sandman’ is it’s a child molester that has written these lyrics and I’m performing it this way and so it’s all different and it’s all very exciting and I hope it works. It’s one of the most exciting performances that I’ve ever done,” says the actor, who has performed on Broadway, in film and on multiple TV series. “When you don’t do it the same way Metallica does it — imagine doing it like a nasty man who’s got this child in the closet in your head. Touch my hand and we’re off to never neverland.”

Shatner is the first to admit he has no idea what the crowd reaction will be in Chicago. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. You’re talking to an actor just prior to the curtain going up saying, ‘I have no idea.’ Well, I have some idea, because there were some professional people that were at the rehearsal there yesterday saying, ‘Holy sh-t!’

“I’m stumbling around in total ignorance, except for one thing. I have a feeling garnered intuitively but garnered over years of experience as to what’s entertaining. What’s fun. For example, we could have ended the set with ‘Sandman.’ It’s very theatrical. But we’ve written a song called ‘One Fear,’ which is the fear of growing old. It ends with the last chord and my saying, ‘Fear fear, fear,’ bang!… ‘of old age.’” And then the concert’s done.

“There wasn’t an argument but an enthusiastic discussion,” Shatner says of the setlist, which some in his camp wanted to end with the Metallica cover. “I said, ‘No, I think it’s more theatrical to have this and I’ll break a guitar.’ And all of a sudden, there’s a grumble going on and people will sit back down in their seats and [think about] this fear of growing old. Damn the thinning hair. Damn the condescension and end with fear of old age.”

Another original in the Riot Fest set is “Rage.” The album version will feature Brian May on guitar – one of the 50 musicians recording tracks. The title comes from the Dylan Thomas line, “Rage, rage against the dying of the light” from his classic poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”

While Billboard’s conversation with Shatner focused on the new album and his Riot Fest performances on Saturday (Sept. 19) and Sunday (Sept. 20), it wouldn’t be a complete interview without some mention of that TV series he starred in on NBC from Sept. 8, 1966 to June 3, 1969.

“They’re celebrating the 60th year of Star Trek. That’s incredible. That’s a phenomena. That’s unheard of. There’s no show that has done what Star Trek has done. It’s unique and I’m part of a unique thing on television. I’m aware of that and I’m very conscious of it. I’m very proud of it. This is the feeling I have about Star Trek: I remember it. It’s too bad it was canceled, but then I’ve been party to cancellations. I know cancellations. They’re painful, but you go on and I went on.

“It’s been a beacon in my career. But I started when I was six years old and here I am, 90 years later.”