Tony Iommi confirms guitar contribution to William Shatner’s heavy metal album

Tony Iommi has confirmed that he contributed guitar to William Shatner‘s forthcoming heavy metal album, “What The F Is Heavy Metal?”.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast, the Black Sabbath guitarist explained this.

Well, when I was asked if I’d do a track with William Shatner, I went, “What?’ I was wondering what it was gonna be like. And when he sent me the track, the idea of the track, I really liked it, and it’s really good what he’s doing. So I put a riff to that and built it up. And it’s not out yet. I don’t know when [it will be released]. I think it’s at the end of the year or beginning of next year

Iommi also spoke about Shatner’s quirky singing style.

Yeah, he does. He more or less speaks it… But his lyrics for it were great. I mean, they’re really good. [The lyrics are] really about what’s happening today. And so I enjoyed doing that. That was very different.

Shatner, now 95, is assembling a guest-filled album that is also expected to feature Brian May, Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford, bassist John Moyer and drummer Dave Lombardo. The actor previewed material from his metal project at Riot Fest in September.

The album has been discussed for a possible 2027 release.

Tony Iommi is a musician from England. He co-founded the groundbreaking heavy metal group Black Sabbath in 1968. For more than 50 years, he served as the band’s guitarist, leader, primary composer, and only consistent member, contributing to every release. He’s been called the “Godfather of Heavy Metal” by some. Iommi’s unique playing style was shaped by an accident at a sheet metal factory when he was a teenager that caused him to lose the tips of his right-hand ring and middle fingers.

He made extensive use of the tritone, sometimes known as the “devil’s interval,” and down-tuned his guitar to produce a “heavier” and “darker” sound that came to be associated with heavy metal. He also utilised more power chords (partly to make playing simpler). In addition to Black Sabbath, he temporarily played live guitar with Jethro Tullin 1968. “Seventh Star” (1986) was supposed to be Iommi‘s debut solo album, but the label chose to release it under the Black Sabbath moniker. His first official solo album, “Iommi”, was released in 2000. “Fused”, which included former bandmate Glenn Hughes, was released in 2005.