James Kottak
Encyclopedia
James Kottak is an American drummer
for the heavy metal
band Scorpions
, which he joined in 1996.
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 also played with guitarist Michael Lee Firkins
.
He also plays in his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK
. 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.
James is one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars
by Paul Miles published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.
James endorses Ddrum
and Yamaha
drums, Aquarian drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Ahead drumsticks and accessories and Danmar percussion.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, which he joined in 1996.
Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was a drummer for Nut House, Mister Charlie, Buster Brown
Buster Brown (band)
Buster Brown were a glam metal band from Louisville, Kentucky. Members included lead vocalist Johnny Edwards, guitarist Allan Phelps, and bassist Kevin Downs....
, Montrose
Montrose (band)
Montrose was a California-based hard rock band. The band originally featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar and future solo artist and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar...
, Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come (band)
Kingdom Come is a hard rock band fronted by Hamburg-born vocalist Lenny Wolf. The group's first album, Kingdom Come was that band's only international hit. It currently consists of an entirely German line-up.-History:...
, Wild Horses
Wild Horses (American rock band)
Wild Horses was a band that originally featured former Buster Brown and Montrose members Johnny Edwards and James Kottak. The band also featured James Kottak's former Kingdom Come bandmate Rick Steier...
, the McAuley Schenker Group
McAuley Schenker Group
McAuley Schenker Group was a band featuring core members Robin McAuley and Michael Schenker , a successor to Schenker's earlier band Michael Schenker Group. McAuley was initially contacted to replace singer Gary Barden in MSG...
, Warrant
Warrant (American band)
Warrant is an American heavy metal band from Hollywood, California, that experienced success from 1989-1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million. The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, and one of its...
, and Ashba. In February 1997 he helped Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
on their US tour by replacing Vinny Appice
Vinny Appice
Vincent Samson Appice , also known as Vinny Appice is a rock drummer of American Italian descent and the younger brother of drummer Carmine 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
Bride (band)
Bride is a Christian heavy metal/hard rock band formed in the 80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. During the band's peak years it was known for covering a wide range of musical styles and remains popular in places like Brazil...
drummer, Jerry McBroom, as a student.
He also played with guitarist Michael Lee Firkins
Michael Lee Firkins
Michael Lee Firkins is an electric guitar player whose sound fuses bluegrass, country, blues, and jazz elements into his distorted rock sound. He is noted amongst guitarists for his prolific use of hybrid picking at high speeds....
.
He also plays in his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK
KrunK
Kottak, formerly known as KrunK, is a pop punk rock group formed in Los Angeles in 1996 by James Kottak aka Jimmy Ratchitt, drummer for the hard rock band Scorpions and his wife Athena Kottak...
. He was married to Athena Lee, rocker Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee
Thomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
'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.
James is one of the characters in the book Sex Tips from Rock Stars
Sex tips from rock stars
Sex Tips from Rock Stars: In Their Own Words is a book by Paul Miles that quotes answers from twenty three rock stars to many questions on a broad range of sexual topics...
by Paul Miles published by Omnibus Press in July 2010.
James endorses Ddrum
Ddrum
ddrum is a division of Armadillo Enterprises, Inc. that manufactures drums, percussion, and electronic drum triggers.-Acoustic drums:ddrum is a sister company to Dean guitars and produces drums that fall into one of several series, each following a motif of beginning with the letter "d" and grouped...
and Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
drums, Aquarian drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Ahead drumsticks and accessories and Danmar percussion.
Scorpions live drum setup
- Ddrum Dominion Maple
-
- 26x18 Bass Drum (x2)
- 14x9 Tom
- 16x16 Floor Tom
- 18x16 Floor Tom
- 14x7 Snare or 14x6.5 Hand-Hammer Bronze Snare
-
- Ahead 5A Drum Sticks
- Aquarian Drumheads
- Aquarian Hi-Energy Head (Snare)
- Response II Drum Heads (toms)
- Superkick II (Bass Drums)
- Zildjian Cymbals
- 17" A Thin Crash
- 20" A Crash Ride
- 20" A China High
- 20" A Thin Crash
- 24" A Medium Ride
- 19" A Thin Crash
- 18" A Rock Crash
- 17" A Medium Thin Crash
- 15" A Rock Hi-Hats
With Buster Brown
- Sign Of VictorySign of Victory (Buster Brown album)Sign Of Victory is the second album of the glam metal band Buster Brown. It is the only Buster Brown album to feature drummer James Kottak.After this album, singer Johnny Edwards and drummer James Kottak were recruited by guitarist Ronnie Montrose into his band Montrose...
(1985) (Kottak did not play on their Loud and ClearLoud and Clear (Buster Brown album)Loud and Clear is the first album of the glam metal band Buster Brown.After this album, drummer Bob Koestel was replaced by drummer James Kottak.-Track listing:# Loud And Clear# Under Control# Little Bit Of Love# Killing Time# Get It Up# Bad Dreams...
album of 1984. He replaced Bob Koestle in 1985.)
With Kingdom Come
- Kingdom ComeKingdom Come (Kingdom Come album)- Band members :*Lenny Wolf – lead vocals*Danny Stag – lead guitar*Rick Steier – rhythm guitar*Johnny B. Frank – bass*James Kottak – drums- Credits :*Produced by Bob Rock and Lenny Wolf...
(1988) - In Your FaceIn Your Face (Kingdom Come album)In Your Face is the second album by the band Kingdom Come.In an interview, the band's members talk about the title of the album, saying that when you first look at the LP, you read "Kingdom Come", then, as you move your eyes downwards, you read "In your face". They laugh and say: "Kingdom come .....
(1989)
With Wild Horses
- BarebackBareback (Wild Horses album)Bareback is the first album by the American rock band Wild Horses.Shortly before the recording of this album, former Shout lead vocalist John Levesque replaced original Wild Horses lead vocalist Johnny Edwards, who left Wild Horses to replace Lou Gramm in the band Foreigner.Apparently, this band...
(1991) - Dead AheadDead Ahead (Wild Horses album)Dead Ahead is the second album by the American rock band Wild Horses.Apparently, the band had split up after the release of their first album and later reunited to record and release this album.-Track listing:# Can't Get By# Ride On...
(2003)
With Scorpions
- Eye II EyeEye II EyeEye II Eye is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1999. It is a radical departure in that Eye II Eye is much more pop-oriented than their previous work, which alienated some fans, despite lead single "Mysterious" reaching number 26 on the Billboard...
(1999) - Moment of GloryMoment of GloryMoment of Glory is the fifteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. At first the English composer Andrew Powell was asked to provide arrangements. As they would have reduced the orchestra too much, being only a symphonic accompaniment, both the...
(2000) - AcousticaAcoustica (Scorpions album)Acoustica is a 2001 unplugged album by German heavy metal band Scorpions.Acoustica was recorded during three concerts, at Convento do Beato, Lisbon, Portugal, in February 2001. It was a most unusual set for the band, as Klaus Meine comments on the DVD...
(2001) - UnbreakableUnbreakable (Scorpions album)Unbreakable is the fifteenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 2004. In this album, Scorpions return to their original, more raw style of music after many concept albums and experimenting with different styles....
(2004) - Humanity - Hour 1 (2007)
- Sting in the TailSting in the TailSting in the Tail is the seventeenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released on March 19, 2010 in Europe and was released on March 23 in North America...
(2010)