# James Kottak
**James Kottak** (December 26, 1962 – January 9, 2024) was an American rock drummer best known as a founding member of Kingdom Come and as the drummer of the Scorpions from 1996 to 2016, the longest tenure of any drummer in that band's history.[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) • [2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) He was the first American musician to play in the German band.[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1962, Louisville, Kentucky; January 9, 2024, at age 61, no cause of death disclosed[3](https://www.the-scorpions.com/member/james-kottak/) • [1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) |
| Scorpions tenure | 1996 to September 2016, about 20 years, the band's longest-serving drummer, ahead of Herman Rarebell (1977–1996)[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) • [2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) |
| Scorpions studio albums | Eye II Eye (1999), Unbreakable (2004), Humanity: Hour I (2007), Sting in the Tail (2010), Return to Forever (2015)[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) • [4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133) |
| Kingdom Come debut | Self-titled 1988 album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and went gold on the strength of the single "Get It On"[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) |
| Own band | Pop-punk group Kottak, also known as KrunK, with a 2006 album *Therupy*; he sang and played guitar rather than drummed[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133) |
| Successor | Replaced in the Scorpions by Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee in September 2016[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) |
## Early life and musical beginnings
Kottak was born in 1962; the Scorpions' official member page lists his hometown as Los Angeles, height 180 cm, and weight 72 kg, while music journalism identifies him as Louisville-born.[3](https://www.the-scorpions.com/member/james-kottak/) • [2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) He fronted the Louisville band [Buster Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/buster-brown) before joining [Ronnie Montrose](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronnie-montrose)'s band, playing on and producing Montrose's 1987 album *Mean*. "Ronnie Montrose is my ultimate hero," Kottak said later. "He put me on the R&R map with MEAN!"[5](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/interview-james-kottak/) Through the 1980s he also played with Montrose, the McAuley Schenker Group, Dio, and Warrant.[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/)
## Kingdom Come and 1980s career
Kottak was Kingdom Come's drummer from the beginning, playing on their first two albums, *Kingdom Come* (1988) and *In Your Face* (1989).[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133) The debut peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and went gold, drawing frequent [Led Zeppelin](https://www.edgepedia.org/led-zeppelin) comparisons, on the strength of the single "Get It On."[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/)
The band's profile brought him into the Scorpions' orbit. He first met them on the 1988 [Monsters of Rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/monsters-of-rock) tour, their first US stadium tour, on which Kingdom Come opened for [Metallica](https://www.edgepedia.org/metallica), Dokken, Scorpions, and [Van Halen](https://www.edgepedia.org/van-halen).[5](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/interview-james-kottak/)
## Scorpions tenure (1996–2016)
**How he got the job.** In 1996 Kottak received a call from a representative of the Scorpions asking whether he was interested in meeting the band; producer Keith Olsen had recommended him after seeing him play.[6](https://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=30071) He was hesitant, because he was content singing and playing guitar in his own band KrunK, with his wife Athena, Tommy Lee's sister, on drums.[7](https://www.moderndrummer.com/2008/02/james-kottak/) He took the offer and became the first American musician to play in the German group.[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/)
**Studio and live work.** Kottak made his Scorpions studio debut on *Eye II Eye* (1999) and performed on the studio albums *Unbreakable* (2004), *Humanity: Hour I* (2007), *Sting in the Tail* (2010), and *Return to Forever* (2015), on which AllMusic also credits him with background vocals; his credits extend to *Comeblack* (2011) and *MTV Unplugged in Athens* (2013).[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) • [4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133)
**Departure.** Kottak left the band in September 2016 and was replaced by [Motörhead](https://www.edgepedia.org/motorhead) drummer [Mikkey Dee](https://www.edgepedia.org/mikkey-dee).[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) His struggles with alcoholism, including a 2014 arrest and imprisonment in Dubai, led to the parting; he sought treatment at [Eric Clapton](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-clapton)'s Crossroads Centre Antigua and said he remained on good terms with his bandmates.[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) In a later interview he described the split as gradual, "like a divorce," and said, "It didn't feel like being fired. ... They're great guys like that. I'm so grateful to them. Put it this way: 21 years is a lifetime."[5](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/interview-james-kottak/) • [2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/)
## Kottak (formerly KrunK) and other projects
Kottak sang and played guitar in his own pop-punk group, known as KrunK and later as Kottak, which released the album *Therupy* in 2006.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133) His European label pushed for the name change to his last name after "crunk" became a rap term; "I didn't want to, but went along with it," he said, and by one interview the band had begun a fifth album through a Pledgemusic campaign.[5](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/interview-james-kottak/)
After leaving the Scorpions he rejoined Kingdom Come in 2018.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133) His session and guest credits include Michael Lee Firkins, L.A. Blues [Authority](https://www.edgepedia.org/authority), the [Michael Schenker Group](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-schenker-group), Cage (1997), Black Sheep (1999), Methods of Mayhem (2010), Montrose, Warrant, and Wild Horses.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133)
## Health and personal life
Kottak was married to drummer [Athena Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/athena-lee), sister of [Tommy Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-lee), from 1996 to 2010; [USA Today](https://www.edgepedia.org/usa-today) reports the couple's children as sons Matthew and Miles and daughter Tobi, while the Scorpions' official member page lists the children as Tori, Miles, and Matthew.[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) • [3](https://www.the-scorpions.com/member/james-kottak/)
His alcoholism led to a 2014 arrest and imprisonment in Dubai.[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) He said he volunteered to attend Eric Clapton's Crossroads rehab facility, calling it "the best move I have ever made," and credited the band with backing him for his health: "the Scorpions are my R&R family ...still!"[5](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/interview-james-kottak/)
## Death and tributes
Kottak died on January 9, 2024, at the age of 61; no cause of death was given in initial reporting.[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) • [4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133) The Scorpions announced his death on their official site, calling him "our dear friend and Drummer for 20 years" and writing that he "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."[8](https://www.the-scorpions.com/rip-james-kottak/)
## By the numbers
Kottak's roughly 20-year Scorpions tenure (1996–2016) made him the band's longest-tenured drummer, just ahead of Herman Rarebell, who served from 1977 to 1996.[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/) He played on five Scorpions studio albums: *Eye II Eye*, *Unbreakable*, *Humanity: Hour I*, *Sting in the Tail*, and *Return to Forever*.[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/) Kingdom Come's 1988 debut reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold.[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/)
## Assessing the tenure: Kottak and the Scorpions' drum chair
Kottak was candid about the albums he recorded with the band. He called 1999's *Eye II Eye* "too loop-heavy" and 2004's *Unbreakable* "too Pro-Tool'd and generic," and judged *Humanity: Hour I* the strongest album of his tenure, "the perfect storm of strong songwriting, technology, and inspired drumming."[7](https://www.moderndrummer.com/2008/02/james-kottak/)
His recording method on *Humanity: Hour I* was unusual: he recorded a Yamaha electronic kit over the backing tracks, quantized it, let the band build the production on top, and then re-recorded his parts on acoustic drums three months later.[7](https://www.moderndrummer.com/2008/02/james-kottak/) The tenure-length comparison, in which Kottak's roughly 20 years edges Rarebell's 1977–1996 run, is the measure on which sources agree.[2](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/)
## References
1. [James Kottak dead: Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer dies at 61, USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/09/james-kottak-dead-scorpions-kingdom-come-drummer/72167684007/)
2. [Ex-Scorpions Drummer James Kottak Dead at 61, Ultimate Classic Rock](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-kottak-dead/)
3. [James Kottak – Scorpions official member page](https://www.the-scorpions.com/member/james-kottak/)
4. [James Kottak – AllMusic biography and credits](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-kottak-mn0000124133)
5. [An interview with James Kottak – K.K. Downing's Steel Mill](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/interview-james-kottak/)
6. [KNAC.COM – Exclusive Interview: James Kottak of Kingdom Come](https://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=30071)
7. [James Kottak of The Scorpions – Modern Drummer (February 2008)](https://www.moderndrummer.com/2008/02/james-kottak/)
8. [RIP James Kottak – Scorpions official band statement](https://www.the-scorpions.com/rip-james-kottak/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Hard rock and glam metal › Hard rock drummers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license