James Kottak, former Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer, dead at 61
James Kottak, who found fame as the drummer for German hard rock group Scorpions, has died aged 61. The rocker was also notable for his role in Kingdom Come, another German band of a similar vein.
Kottak’s death was confirmed by his daughter Tobi, one of three children he raised with his wife Athena Bass, sister of Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee. He passed away in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on January 9th. At this time, the cause of death is unknown.
Although Kottak was not the original drummer for Scorpions, he was their longest serving in the role. Joining the group in 1996, he served a dedicated member of the band for 20 years. However, his alcoholism ultimately cut his time with Scorpions short, though he would later attempt to work on his addiction issues.
In addition to Scorpions and Kingdom Come, the veteran of hard rock played with a wide range of other artists, including Montrose, Buster Brown, and Wild Horses. Despite much of his work flying under the radar of mainstream music fans, he remained a notable figure in the American hard rock scene.
After his dismissal from Scorpions, to be replaced by Mötorhead’s Mikkey Dee, Kottak rejoined Kingdom Come, the band he had helped to form in the 1980s. He remained an active member of the group up until his death on Tuesday.
In recent years, the drummer was criticised for his political views, which he often expressed on social media. Kottak regularly expressed abhorrent racist views and xenophobia, particularly targeted at African Americans and the immigrant community. Furthermore, in 2014, the Scorpions member was arrested in Dubai for public drunkenness and insulting Islam.
Kottak made an impact on the face of hard rock through his various musical projects, including his 20-year span with Scorpions, but his offensive political views blight his legacy.
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