James Kottak (1962–2024), drummer with Scorpions, Kingdom Come
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2 min readJames Kottak was a rock drummer who spent 20 years with the band Scorpions and a founding member of Kingdom Come.
- Died: January 9, 2024 (Who else died on January 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 61.
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James Kottak’s legacy
Kottak cut his rock and roll teeth playing with a wide variety of hard rock bands in the 1980s. He was a founding member of the Germany-based band Kingdom Come, playing with them on their first two albums. Their debut went platinum, and the band joined the Monsters of Rock tour in 1988. However, founding member Lenny Wolf broke up Kingdom Come in 1989 and reformed it with new members. Kottak rejoined the band in 2018.
Kottak continued playing with other hard rock acts, including The Cult, Warrant, and Wild Horses. In 1996, he joined the legendary German rock band Scorpions, who have sold over 100 million records worldwide. He was the band’s longest-serving drummer, playing with them for 20 years until being fired in 2016 for his alcoholism and off-stage behavior.
Kottak also released four albums with his own band, called Kottak.
Tributes to James Kottak
Full obituary: USA Today
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