James Kottak

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James Kottak
Kottak performing in 2014
Background information
Born	(1962-12-26)December 26, 1962 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	January 9, 2024(2024-01-09) (aged 61) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupation	Drummer
Years active	1980–2024
Formerly of	Scorpions Kingdom Come Kottak Montrose Warrant Buster Brown Wild Horses McAuley Schenker Group

James Kottak (December 26, 1962 – January 9, 2024) was an American drummer, best known for his work with the German hard rock band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. At the time of his firing from the band in 2016, he was their longest-serving drummer. Kottak was also an original member of Kingdom Come, of whom he was their drummer from 1987 to 1989 and again from 2018 to his death in 2024, and he had his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK. Other bands Kottak played for were Montrose, Warrant, Wild Horses, the McAuley Schenker Group, and Buster Brown.

Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was a drummer for Nuthouse, Apex, the Bob Brickley Band, Mister Charlie, Buster Brown, Montrose, Kingdom Come, Wild Horses, the McAuley Schenker Group, Warrant, and Ashba. As a teenager in Louisville, he had a strong local presence in several live bands, including the fusion group Nuthouse, which also featured his Durrett High School bandmate Don Braden (later a world-renowned jazz saxophonist).^[1] He received a music scholarship to the University of Louisville. ^[2] His first instrument was the trumpet, but he later fell in love with the drums around age of 15.

In 1987, Kottak was part of the band Buster Brown, a group from Louisville, Kentucky, when legendary guitarist Ronnie Montrose recruited both Kottak and vocalist Johnny Edwards for his new album Mean.^[3] This collaboration further showcased Kottak's versatile drumming skills. That same year, Kottak relocated to Los Angeles to pursue further opportunities in the music industry, after being recommended by RATT's drummer Bobby Blotzer, who had seen him perform at a bar in Louisville.^[4]

In the follow year, Kottak gained early mainstream exposure during his time with Kingdom Come, appearing on the band's first two studio albums, the first of which included their biggest hit, "Get It On". This track prominently features Kottak's drumming, culminating in a drum solo just before the song's conclusion. Around 1990, Kottak joined The Cult, but left after the first batch of demos for their then-upcoming fifth studio album Ceremony, in which the album's drum tracks were done by Mickey Curry.^[5][6]

James Kottak joined the Scorpions in 1996, replacing longtime drummer Herman Rarebell who had left the band in 1995 to focus on other projects, and as part of the search for a new drummer, he recommended Kottak, with whom he had developed a good rapport during the Monsters of Rock Tour in 1988. At that time, Kottak was playing with Kingdom Come, a band that shared the festival lineup alongside Metallica, Dokken, Scorpions, and Van Halen.^[7]

Kottak had also previously collaborated with Michael Schenker in the McAuley Schenker Group, recording the album MSG in 1991.^[8] His experience and versatility caught the attention of producer Keith Olsen, who had worked with Kottak on previous projects and reinforced Rarebell's recommendation.^[9] Although Kottak did not record the Pure Instinct album, he was invited for a successful audition and officially becoming the first non-German member of the Scorpions.^[10]

In February 1997, he joined Dio on their U.S. tour by filling in for Vinny Appice for four or five shows when the latter had pneumonia. He also gave drum lessons at Far-Out Music in Jeffersonville, Indiana, once having onetime Bride drummer, Jerry McBroom as a student. He played with guitarist Michael Lee Firkins and also collaborated with DJ Ashba on his solo album "Addiction to the Friction".^[11]

Kottak also played in his own band Kottak (formerly known as KrunK), serving as both the lead vocalist and guitarist, often performing with Dean guitars.

He participated in the band World War III, performing as the drummer alongside Mandy Lion (vocals), Kurt James (guitar), and Jimmy Bain (bass) during their 2009 performance at the Key Club in West Hollywood.^[12]

In addition to his musical career, Kottak contributed to the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars by Paul Miles, published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.^[13]

In 2013, James Kottak formed the group Project Rock with Keri Kelli, Rudy Sarzo, and Tim "Ripper" Owens. The project was conceived as a collaboration between experienced musicians to perform classic hard rock songs with new arrangements. That same year, the band toured Russia and played at several European festivals, gaining recognition for their energetic performances with a set composed by songs of Alice Cooper, Dio, Judas Priest, Scorpions and so on.

Later, the group was renamed A New Revenge and released their debut album, *"Enemies & Lovers"*, in 2019 through Golden Robot Records. The album included original tracks like *"Never let you go"* and *"The Way"*, blending influences of classic hard rock with a modern approach. However, due to the members' individual commitments, the band was unable to go on a tour to promote the album.^[14][15][16]

On April 28, 2016, it was announced that Kottak would be replaced by Mikkey Dee on 12 North American headlining dates, including a run of shows at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas dubbed "Scorpions blacked out in Las Vegas".^[17][18] On September 12, 2016, it was announced that Kottak was no longer in the band.^[19]

Kottak endorsed Ddrum and Yamaha drums, Aquarian drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Ahead drumsticks, accessories and Danmar percussion and Dean guitars for his own band.

Kottak was married to Athena Bass, Tommy Lee's younger sister, who is also a drummer and was a fellow member of Kottak. The couple, married in 1996, had three children, Matthew, Tobi and Miles (drummer of the indie rock band Bad Suns^[20] ). They divorced in 2010.

On April 29, 2014, the National Post reported via the Associated Press that Kottak had been arrested in Dubai and sentenced to one month in jail for offensive behavior, insulting Islam, and public drunkenness.^[21]

On September 12, 2016, he was fired from Scorpions for his alcoholism, and would later work on his recovery.^[22]

James Kottak appeared in the reality TV series Ex-Wives of Rock, which aired from 2012 to 2014. The show focused on the lives of the ex-wives of famous rock musicians, with Athena Lee, Kottak's ex-wife, being one of the main cast members.^[23]

Additionally, Kottak was featured in the documentary film Scorpions: Forever and a Day (2015), which provides an inside look at the band's history.^[24]

On January 9, 2024, Kottak was found dead in his bathroom at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 61.^[25] His exact cause of death is unknown as of yet.^[26] However, heavy metal news source Metal Sludge stated that his cause of death was believed to be apparent cardiac arrest.^[27][25]

• Sign of Victory (1985) (Kottak did not play on their Loud and Clear album of 1984. He replaced Bob Koestle in 1985.)

• Mean (1987)

• Kingdom Come (1988)
• In Your Face (1989)

• Michael Lee Firkins (1990)

• Rare Cult (The Demo Sessions) | The Red Zone Demos ~ 1991 (2002)

• Bareback (1991)
• Dead Ahead (2003)

• MSG (1991)

• Back on Track (1993)

• Ultraphobic (1995)

• Addiction to the Friction (1996)

• Eye II Eye (1999)
• Moment of Glory (2000)
• Acoustica (2001)
• Unbreakable (2004)
• Humanity - Hour 1 (2007)
• Sting in the Tail (2010)
• Live 2011: Get Your Sting & Blackout (2011)
• Comeblack (2011)
• MTV Unplugged – Live in Athens (2013)
• Return to Forever (2015)

• Here And Gone (2007)

• Sacrifice (1998, 1999)
• Willie Basse – "Break Away" (2010)

• "Enemies & lovers" (2019)

• Greatist Hits (1998)
• Therupy (2006)
• Rock & Roll Forever (2010)
• Attack (2011)

• Media related to James Kottak at Wikimedia Commons
• James Kottak discography at Discogs
• James Kottak at IMDb