William Shatner album to feature metal maniac Zakk Wylde and a swarm of '70s guitar heroes

William Shatner will be joined by a plethora of world-famous guitar heroes on his next recording, a space-themed concept album titled Searching For Major Tom.

The CD will be composed of 19 "interpretations" of intergalactic rock anthems, including Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" (featuring Zakk Wylde of Ozzy Osbourne fame), Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" (featuring Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers), the Tea Party's "Empty Glass" (featuring Michael Schenker from UFO, MSG, and Scorpions), and Duran Duran's "Planet Earth" (featuring Steve Howe of Yes).

Strangely enough, Texas blues-rocker Johnny Winter plays on a version of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'" (which also boasts Purple's Ian Paice on drums), while original DP guitarist Ritchie Blackmore does the six-string damage on David Bowie's "Space Oddity".

Shatner also takes another crack at the Elton John hit, "Rocket Man", which he's famously covered before (see below). This time around he's got prog-rocker Steve Hillage on guitar, who I have vague memories of from the seventies. I think I might have had his album Green.

Searching For Major Tom is scheduled for release later this year on L.A.-based Cleopatra Records.