James Kottak

James Kottak
Background information
Birth name	James Kottak
Born	December 26, 1962 Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Drums, guitar, vocals
Labels	BMG
Associated acts	Buster Brown, Montrose, Kingdom Come, Warrant, Scorpions, Kottak
Website	jameskottak.com

James Kottak (born December 26, 1962, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American drummer. He is best known for his work with the German hard rock band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. At the time of leaving the band he was their all-time longest-standing drummer, surpassing Herman Rarebell, who spent 18 years in the band.

Career

Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was a drummer for The Bob Brickley Band, Nut House, Mister Charlie, Buster Brown, Montrose, Kingdom Come, Wild Horses, the McAuley Schenker Group, Warrant, and Ashba. In February 1997 he helped Dio on their US tour by replacing Vinny Appice for four or five shows when Vinny Appice had pneumonia. He also gave drum lessons at Far-Out Music in Jeffersonville, Indiana, once having former Bride drummer, Jerry McBroom, and Shane Harrison who went on to play with country super star Terri Clark. He also played with guitarist Michael Lee Firkins.

Kottak also plays in his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK.

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".^[1][2] On September 12, 2016, it was announced that Kottak was no longer in the band.^[3]

Kottak endorses Ddrum and Yamaha drums, Aquarian drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Ahead drumsticks and accessories and Danmar percussion.

Personal life

Kottak was married to Athena Lee, rocker Tommy Lee's younger sister, who is also a drummer and was a fellow member of Kottak. The couple has three children; one girl, Tobi, and two boys, Miles and Matthew.

On April 29, 2014 the National Post reported via the Associated Press that Kottak was arrested in Dubai and sentenced to one month in jail for drunkenness, offensive behavior and insulting Islam.^[4]

In popular culture

Kottak is one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars by Paul Miles published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.^[5]

Discography

with Buster Brown

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

with Montrose

• Mean (1987)

with Kingdom Come

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

with Michael Lee Firkins

• Michael Lee Firkins (1990)

with Wild Horses

• Bareback (1991)
• Dead Ahead (2003)

with McAuley Schenker Group

• MSG (1992)

with Warrant

• Ultraphobic (1995)

with Ashba

• Addiction to the Friction (1996)

with Scorpions

• 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

• Sacrifice (1999)
• Willie Basse – "Break Away"

Kottak

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

References

1. "SCORPIONS RECRUIT MIKKEY DEE TO FILL IN ON U.S. DATES". www.the-scorpions.com. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
2. "SCORPIONS Recruit MOTÖRHEAD Drummer MIKKEY DEE For U.S. Tour". 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
3. "Former MOTÖRHEAD Drummer MIKKEY DEE Joins SCORPIONS As Permanent Member". blabbermouth.net. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
4. Paul Miles. "Scorpions drummer James Kottak jailed in Dubai for drunkenly insulting Islam, reports claim". Retrieved 2014-04-29.
5. Paul Miles. "Sex Tips From Rock Stars by Paul Miles". SexTipsFromRockStars.com. Retrieved 2011-10-20.

External links

• Official James Kottak page
• James Kottak discography at Discogs