Christopher Lee releases heavy metal album inspired by ‘Don Quixote’

Sir Christopher Lee, best known for his roles in such fantasy films series as Dracula, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars, is also an accomplished heavy metal performer. Just in time for his 92nd birthday, the performer released a new seven-track LP titled Metal Knight, inspired by the adventures of Don Quixote.

“As far as I am concerned, Don Quixote is the most metal fictional character that I know,” Lee said. “Single handed, he is trying to change the world, regardless of any personal consequences. It is a wonderful character to sing.” The tracks for Metal Knight include I, Don Quixote, The Impossible Dream, and The Toreador March, a metal cover of The Toreador Song from the opera Carmen.

A classically trained singer, Lee has been performing heavy metal for years. His first symphonic metal album, Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross, was released in 2010. Since then, he released a follow-up, the even heavier Charlemagne: The Omens of Death, along with two Christmas metal albums. One track, Jingle Hell, went on to chart on the Billboard 100, making him the oldest living performer to earn the distinction.