Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was a drummer for 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, as a student. He 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. Athena was nominated for "BEST DRUMMER" (Males and Females) category. She was the first female ever nominated in the history of the L.A. Music Awards.
James has recorded 6 CDs and 5 DVDs with the Scorpions so far. He also plays in his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK. Kottak has just released its fourth studio album Attack, which was produced by Tommy Henriksen (Daughtry, BC Jean, Lady Gaga). It was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville at Henriksens’ Anarchy Studios.
The current line up is James Kottak (vocals, guitars), Stephanie Smith (lead guitars, backing vocals), Nils Wandrey (bass, backing vocals) and Francis Ruiz (drums).
Kottak is touring with Edguy atm on their Age Of The Joker tour.
James Kottak, yes, do not really know how to say this, a nice lad, lovely confused, a bit Ozzy over him, as when he and guitarist sang together as did the feeling that Ozzy stood there and did a duet with Courtney Love. It was a good gig, even James got behind the drum stool on one occasion. He offered truly of himself and it was a lot of humor on stage. He dragged up a photographer on the stage that had a worn Motley Crue t-shirt on as he pointed a little about, even a "Kottak 'fan did come up and sing a bit.
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James Kottak surprises Edguy onstage at the Tyrol in Stockholm, Sweden on Sept 25th 2011....he shows up onstage in the middle of a song in a towel, to the suprise of Edguy and Tobias, and flashes the entire audience....with only a sock on!!! Classic insane Kottak moment....Kottak is currently having a blast on tour opening for Edguy on their Fall European tour!!!
Todays tune is "Sunset Blvd" is taken from his album Rock & Roll Forever, it's like “Cheap Trick meets Green Day on a bad day.” Enjoy!
More info @
Official Kottak Web
Official Kottak MySpace
Listen to ”Kottak - Sunset Blvd" on Spotify here! Follow tuneoftheday.blogspot.com on Spotify here!
