Former Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer James Kottak died Tuesday morning in Louisville, Kentucky at 61. No cause of death has been given by his daughter, Tobi.
Scorpions paid tribute to Kottack in a Facebook post.
“Very sad news … our dear friend and Drummer for 20 years James Kottak has passed at the age of 61,” the band wrote alongside a black-and-white image of Kottak. “James was a wonderful human being , a great musician and loving family man … he was our Brother from another Mother and will be truly missed . … Rock ‘n Roll Forever. Rip James.”
Kottak was the drummer for Scorpions from 1996 to 2016, the longest stint for any member in the band.
Before that, he was the original drummer for another German hard rock band, Kingdom Come, from 1987 to 1995.
In a sideline, Kottak also made some reality TV show appearances, including 2012’s Ex-Wives of Rock.
Kottak struggled with alcoholism, and was arrested...
Scorpions paid tribute to Kottack in a Facebook post.
“Very sad news … our dear friend and Drummer for 20 years James Kottak has passed at the age of 61,” the band wrote alongside a black-and-white image of Kottak. “James was a wonderful human being , a great musician and loving family man … he was our Brother from another Mother and will be truly missed . … Rock ‘n Roll Forever. Rip James.”
Kottak was the drummer for Scorpions from 1996 to 2016, the longest stint for any member in the band.
Before that, he was the original drummer for another German hard rock band, Kingdom Come, from 1987 to 1995.
In a sideline, Kottak also made some reality TV show appearances, including 2012’s Ex-Wives of Rock.
Kottak struggled with alcoholism, and was arrested...
- 1/10/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Scorpions drummer James Kottak has died at the age of 61. The veteran rocker was also a member of another notable German rock band, Kingdom Come.
No cause of death is immediately known, but Kottak’s passing was confirmed by his daughter Tobi, who told TMZ that the drummer died Tuesday morning in his birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky.
Kottak was a member of Scorpions from 1996 through 2016, appearing on all albums from 1999’s Eye II Eye to 2015’s Return to Forever. After 20 years in the band, he was fired for alcoholism, and replaced by Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee, who remains a current member of Scorpions.
Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was an original member of Kingdom Come in the 1980s, and rejoined the group a couple years after his dismissal from Scorpions. He was an active member of the band up until his passing.
Additionally, Kottak had stints in such acts as Warrant,...
No cause of death is immediately known, but Kottak’s passing was confirmed by his daughter Tobi, who told TMZ that the drummer died Tuesday morning in his birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky.
Kottak was a member of Scorpions from 1996 through 2016, appearing on all albums from 1999’s Eye II Eye to 2015’s Return to Forever. After 20 years in the band, he was fired for alcoholism, and replaced by Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee, who remains a current member of Scorpions.
Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was an original member of Kingdom Come in the 1980s, and rejoined the group a couple years after his dismissal from Scorpions. He was an active member of the band up until his passing.
Additionally, Kottak had stints in such acts as Warrant,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
What may be most surprising about Katja von Garnier’s music doc Forever and a Day, a contemporary portrait of iconic hard rock/heavy metal German band The Scorpions, is to note their five decades worth of musical presence. Formed by Rudolf Schenker in 1965, the band allowed Garnier to tag along as they embarked on what was meant to be their Final Sting tour, an eighteen month stretch of performances which were set to wrap up in Munich. However, based on the jubilant reaction as they performed, the band decided to then extend the tour. The result becomes a ruminative pondering on the nature of an artist’s retirement and what happens when creative outlets are eventually restrained. In between playdates, Garnier completes a historical portrait of the band’s ups and downs throughout the past fifty years.
As one of the band’s managers remarks early on, “it’s...
As one of the band’s managers remarks early on, “it’s...
- 1/5/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Uh-oh! The drummer for the Scorpions, James Kottak, has been arrested in Dubai. Kottak, 51, was detained at Dubai International Airport, according to members of the local media. He is being accused of offensive behavior after he allegedly arrived at the airport intoxicated following an April 3 flight from Moscow. Kottak last tweeted from his personal Twitter account on April 3. Though he is usually very active on social media, often tweeting multiple times per day, Kottak's last message weeks ago referenced being in "freezing Russia." The accusations against [...]...
- 4/30/2014
- Us Weekly
Dubai, April 30: 'Scorpions' drummer James Kottak has been jailed for a month as he has been convicted of indecent gesture after removing his pants at airport and for swearing at Muslims while drunk at Dubai airport.
The 51-year-old drummer of German heavy metal band admitted before the Dubai Misdemeanors Court that he had drunk five glasses of wine on board a flight from Moscow to Bahrain, where he was to play at the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Gulf News reported.
Two ground staff at the airport testified that they heard the American drummer shouting that he would not travel with a group of Pakistani and Afghani passengers, and was also heard cursing flydubai, Muslims and the airport.
The incident happened on April 3.
The 51-year-old drummer of German heavy metal band admitted before the Dubai Misdemeanors Court that he had drunk five glasses of wine on board a flight from Moscow to Bahrain, where he was to play at the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Gulf News reported.
Two ground staff at the airport testified that they heard the American drummer shouting that he would not travel with a group of Pakistani and Afghani passengers, and was also heard cursing flydubai, Muslims and the airport.
The incident happened on April 3.
- 4/30/2014
- by Anita Agarwal
- RealBollywood.com
Scorpions drummer James Kottak was arrested in Dubai and sentenced to one month in jail for offensive behavior.
Scorpions, a German rock band, were at the Dubai airport when the incident occurred on April 3. Kottak was reportedly drinking and was accused of speaking ill of Islam. Kottak was arrested in the Dubai airport transit hall after allegedly ranting about “non-educated Muslims” and flipping people off. Witnesses also claimed that the drummer said he would not travel with any Pakistani or Afghan travelers.
Scorpions performed their April 5 concert at a Formula One race without Kottak.
Kottak has denied the charges, but admitted that he was guilty of drinking alcohol without a license, a crime for which he paid a $550 fine. Kottak has been in jail since his April 3 arrest and is expected to be released and deported before the end of the week.
Scorpions addressed the incident on their official Facebook page,...
Scorpions, a German rock band, were at the Dubai airport when the incident occurred on April 3. Kottak was reportedly drinking and was accused of speaking ill of Islam. Kottak was arrested in the Dubai airport transit hall after allegedly ranting about “non-educated Muslims” and flipping people off. Witnesses also claimed that the drummer said he would not travel with any Pakistani or Afghan travelers.
Scorpions performed their April 5 concert at a Formula One race without Kottak.
Kottak has denied the charges, but admitted that he was guilty of drinking alcohol without a license, a crime for which he paid a $550 fine. Kottak has been in jail since his April 3 arrest and is expected to be released and deported before the end of the week.
Scorpions addressed the incident on their official Facebook page,...
- 4/30/2014
- Uinterview
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