‘Really good, deep and spiritual’: Billy Sherwood boldly goes into new album with Star Trek’s William Shatner

Billy Sherwood has been beamed on board for the newest album from swashbuckling Star Trek star James T. Kirk — er, William Shatner. Sherwood says he is providing the music, while Shatner writes the lyrics.

Shatner, who appeared as Kirk from 1966-69 on television and then in seven Star Trek motion pictures between 1979-94, started a tandem recording career in 1968, with The Transformed Man — featuring dramatic readings of works by William Shakespeare, as well as unique readings of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

Shatner then released a pair of projects in the late 1970s, including a double live album, before returning in the 2000s with Has Been. His latest album was 2011’s Seeking Major Tom, which featured guest appearances by Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore, Asia’s John Wetton, Yes’ Steve Howe and Peter Frampton, among others.

Sherwood, most famous for a stint in the 1990s edition of Yes, says he started writing music in January, and began production on the as-yet-unnamed Shatner project last week.

“He has so many great lyrical ideas already it’s amazing,” Sherwood says, via Facebook, adding that Shatner’s lyrics “are really good, deep and spiritual.”

Sherwood says the two enjoyed a quick creative spark, too, leading to the fast creation of four new songs.

“We sketched out the framework of the entire record in one sitting,” Sherwood said. “It’s going to be a very unique and artistic venture. He and I sat at a table in his home, batting ideas around for a good few hours.”

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