By "Metal" Tim Henderson

I've known Captain James T. Kirk a long, long time. And it was from a galaxy far, far away. But haven't we all? It took a bit for the Montreal-born William Shatner to shake off the "beam me up Scotty" remarks that would be screamed at him on the street, but it's funny how a show that got yanked off the air after only three seasons (1966–1969), still resonates through society. But I'll admit, I still have nightmares of Gorn, the green alien amphibian that he fought in that cheesy costume! Being a '67 baby, I was walking in a crib when the USS Enterprise was exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations, boldly going where no man has gone before. But the forward-thinking Gene Roddenberry's creation became a template and influence for many a series and many more movies (Star Wars anyone?). And I gotta tell ya, the self-titled Star Trek movie featuring the cast in their youth was one of the tops in 2009.

But Shatner grew into much more than a Captain. His resume is staggering. The subsequent Star Trek feature films from 1979 to 1994, T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1986, Rescue 911 from 1989 to 1996 and later The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, where he won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Shatner also starred in the short-lived $#*! My Dad Says and currently hosts Shatner's Raw Nerve on The Biography Channel, and the Discovery Channel television series Weird Or What?

Yes Jim, your life is a little weird or what? Shatner will tell you he's having the time of his life and if you saw the recent Roast Of Charlie Sheen, he's a regular guy, with a helluva sense of humor, living life to the fullest at the ripe ol' age of 80!

And although Shatner has been flying around in one big hunk of heavy metal for most of his life, why on Earth would he tackle a spoken word rock album with some of the brightest stars in the planetary music scene.

Shatner's musical career actually began in 1968 with The Transformed Man, which featured his now-famous spoken word over such hit songs as THE BEATLES' 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' and BOB DYLAN's 'Mr. Tambourine Man'. Now is that not weird or what?

With one listen to Seeking Major Tom, you either get it or you don't. And Shatner gets it.

"Let me tell you about hard rock," he begins on the phone from somewhere in outer-space. "Everyone is asking me the same question - what the fuck are you doing? I had no idea about the energy, the purity and the excitement of heavy metal until I worked with ZAKK WYLDE. I laid down my tracks to (BLACK SABBATH's) 'Iron Man' first and then I went to Zakk Wylde's house a couple of weeks later and the sound of Zakk Wylde's guitar and voice taught me the meaning of heavy metal. And I have nothing but deep respect for it."

You've got some heavy-weights of the scene. To actually get Ritchie Blackmore (BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, ex-DEEP PURPLE) out of his tights and Renaissance garb is quite the feat!

"Yes, it's incredible. There's some 20 of the greatest musicians alive today are on this record, it's phenomenal! And how it happened is a little bit beyond me. Most of the people we asked jumped on board."

Which artist had you awestruck or even starstruck?

"All of them. I know that's a cop-out, but I mean, how do you choose between BRAD PAISLEY playing that guitar, or Ritchie Blackmore, or PETER FRAMPTON. And SHERYL CROW? Singing that song ('Mrs. Major Tom') acapalla with bell-like tones. What an incredible voice. So how do you choose? I'm awestruck by the generosity of these people that gave me their time and their talent. And I'm filled with that tentative sort of offering like when a kitten comes in with a bundle from outside and offers it. I'm offering this record and as I see the reaction I'm braver about it. I didn't know how it was going to be taken. I mean, the people who were in on the making of it were saying 'awesome' and 'great', but I've been in a lot of productions where you think you're great. Or in the horse business it's called being barn-blind. And I didn't know we were being barn-blind or not. I felt great about it, but I didn't know if it was going to be accepted or not. And it's becoming quite popular."

Did Seeking Major Tom bring back any memories of you being in a recording studio?

"There is a line that connects the dots from Transform Man, to Has Been (2004 - arranged by BEN FOLDS) to this. I love music. And I wish that I could sing like some trained tenor. Or even had a character voice like Brad Paisley. But I don't. But I love the spoken word. And I love the musicality of words. And so I try my best to take advantage of those talents that I have."

What music do you gravitate to in your spare time?

"I'm quite eclectic about it. From opera to jazz. I heard the new RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS album (I'm With You) and I think it's incredible. Most of the stuff I don't know the names of the people performing it. I hear and I love it, but I don't know who it is."

And you never played an instrument yourself then?

"Not really. I attempted the guitar. I did a lot of acting and directing in college musicals. But I've always wanted to be able to perform a song, a meaningful song. A song that carries with it a great lyric and a haunting melody if you will. Haunting in the fact that you can't forget it and hum along to it in your car. I long to do that. But I will never do that. But this is what I can do."

So these particular tracks were chosen by you first and then you slotted the musicians in?

"Yes. I saw a half dozen songs using the character of Major Tom. And it occurred to me that Major Tom could be made into a character who has a beginning, a middle and an end. So he goes up into a capsule and we lose him. What happened to him? Well, he's walking on the moon. He's a space cowboy. He's thinking of his wife - she's blinding me with science. And he's having a good time, but something's wrong. Something goes wrong. Maybe there's a tear in his suit? And he begins to hallucinate and look back at his life and remember what it was like. Remember learning to fly. Then his whole background of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. And then he goes to heaven and thinks about God. And then he goes to Hell in 'Iron Man'. There's a beginning, a middle and an end to Major Tom, all connected to the sounds of the Voyager rocket and the final break-up of a rocket."

Any video production in the works?

"That's very astute of you to think about. I've been mulling that over for the past month and making moves in that direction. I think it's helluva laser-light projection show that could be very entertaining."

As an artist, where do you feel the most comfortable?

"Over the years, it's sort of natural to be in front of an audience, making them laugh. And being in front of a camera and playing that smaller. And then getting in front of a microphone and trying to be musical. I'm just a minstrel."

Watching you on the roast of Charlie Sheen recently, it seems you are still a dirty old man - an every-man as it were!

"Well I shower regularly, so the dirty old man I try to avoid. I'm having the time of my life."

And many Canadian talents aren't recognized so when they leave, they rarely come back. Although you were honoured earlier this year

with Governor General Of Canada’s Performing Arts Award For Lifetime Artistic Achievement

"I know. I'm coming back to I'm sure a great deal of criticism, but what the hell."

But I'm kicking myself. We ran out of time before I could ask him about his thoughts on the passing of Steve Jobs. Keep in mind, it was Captain Kirk and his crew that had these little devices in their hands and their space console in the late '60s! Maybe next time Captain Kirk, maybe next time.

One more thing … check out Shatner Rules: Your Guide To Understanding The Shatnerverse And The World At Large.