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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.
James Kottak | |
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![]() Kottak performing in 2014 | |
Background information | |
Born | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | December 26, 1962
Died | January 9, 2024 (aged 61) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal |
Occupation | Drummer |
Years active | 1980–2024 |
Formerly of |
Career
editPrior 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 earned a music scholarship from the University of Louisville. [2]
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.[3][4]
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 also played with guitarist Michael Lee Firkins.
Kottak also played in his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK.
Kottak was one of the contributors to the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars by Paul Miles published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.[5]
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".[6][7] On September 12, 2016, it was announced that Kottak was no longer in the band.[8]
Kottak endorsed Ddrum and Yamaha drums, Aquarian drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Ahead drumsticks and accessories and Danmar percussion.
Personal life
editKottak was married to Athena Bass, Tommy Lee's younger sister, who is also a drummer and was a fellow member of Kottak. The couple had three children between them, including their son, Matthew, and Athena's two children from two prior relationships.
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.[9]
On September 12, 2016, he was fired from Scorpions for his alcoholism, and would later work on his recovery.[10]
Political views
editAfter his dismissal from the Scorpions, Kottak came out publicly about his politically conservative views.
In June 2019, Kottak said, "I wrote a new song.... 'Get out of My Kountry' ie: stay out of my space! We don't need anymore outsiders. We can't even fix the homeless problems?! When homeless problem is solved we take care everyone else..."[10] On October 15, 2019, Kottak went on Twitter and stated, "You know I am sick of every other commercial having inter racial couples...this is not reality. It is Hollywood shoving it down our throat. I don't have one friend or friends who live in this category...just saying".[11] On November 26, 2019, Kottak went on to say that "OK so the percentage of black Americans in the U.S. is about 13% so why are they represented 50 to 60% on all commercials? Just saying call me out if you have a reasonable argument?". A short time later, he added: "Maybe none of you have any balls to speak the truth?"[12]
Death
editOn January 9, 2024, Kottak was found dead in his bathroom at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 61.[13] His exact cause of death is unknown as of yet.[14] However, heavy metal news source Metal Sludge stated that his cause of death was believed to be apparent cardiac arrest.[15][13]
Discography
editwith Buster Brown
edit- Sign of Victory (1985) (Kottak did not play on their Loud and Clear album of 1984. He replaced Bob Koestle in 1985.)
with Montrose
edit- Mean (1987)
with Kingdom Come
edit- Kingdom Come (1988)
- In Your Face (1989)
with Michael Lee Firkins
edit- Michael Lee Firkins (1990)
with Wild Horses
edit- Bareback (1991)
- Dead Ahead (2003)
with McAuley Schenker Group
edit- MSG (1991)
with Warrant
edit- Ultraphobic (1995)
with Ashba
edit- Addiction to the Friction (1996)
with Scorpions
edit- 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)
with Black Sheep
edit- Sacrifice (1998, 1999)
- Willie Basse – "Break Away"
with A New Revenge
edit- "Enemies & lovers" (2019)
with Kottak
edit- Greatist Hits (1998)
- Therupy (2006)
- Rock & Roll Forever (2010)
- Attack (2011)
References
edit- ^ "Don Braden Gives Back to Benefactor, The Courier-Journal newspaper". October 18, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "'James could play anything' – Louisville community mourns death of former Scorpions drummer". January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "Scorpions Drummer James Kottak – "We'll Really Be Done By 2013"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Rare Cult: The Demo Sessions (Media notes). The Cult. Beggars Banquet Records. 2002. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Paul Miles. "Sex Tips From Rock Stars by Paul Miles". SexTipsFromRockStars.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ "Scorpions Recruit Mikkey Dee to Fill in on U.S. Dates". www.the-scorpions.com. April 28, 2016. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ^ "Scorpions Recruit Motörhead Drummer Mikkey Dee For U.S. Tour". April 28, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ^ "Former Motörhead Drummer Mikkey Dee Joins Scorpions As Permanent Member". blabbermouth.net. September 12, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ^ Paul Miles. "Scorpions drummer James Kottak jailed in Dubai for drunkenly insulting Islam, reports claim". Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
- ^ a b "Kottak: Fix Homelessness Problem". Metal Devastation Radio. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Ex-Scorpions Drummer James Kottak Is 'Sick Of Every Other Commercial Having Interracial Couples': 'This Is Not Reality'". blabbermouth.net. October 15, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Ex-Scorpions Drummer James Kottak Says Black Americans Are Disproportionately Represented In Commercials". blabbermouth.net. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ a b "James Kottak, former Scorpions drummer, dies at 61". WECB. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-Scorpions Drummer James Kottak Dead At 61". TMZ. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ "RIP … Kingdom Come drummer James Kottak Dead at 61". Metal Sludge. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
External links
edit- Media related to James Kottak at Wikimedia Commons
- James Kottak discography at Discogs
- James Kottak at IMDb