James Kottak

James Kottak (born December 26, 1962, Louisville, Kentucky) 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.^[1]

James endorses Ddrum and Yamaha 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

Discography

With Buster Brown

• Sign Of Victory (1985) (Kottak did not play on their Loud and Clear album of 1984. He replaced Bob Koestle in 1985.)

With Montrose

• Mean (1987)

With Kingdom Come

• Kingdom Come (1988)
• In Your Face (1989)

With Michael Lee Firkins

• Michael Lee Firkins (1990)

With Wild Horses

• Bareback (1991)
• Dead Ahead (2003)

With McAuley Schenker Group

• M.S.G. (1992)

With Warrant

• Ultraphobic (1995)

With Ashba

• Addiction To The Friction (1996)

With Scorpions

• Eye II Eye (1999)
• Moment of Glory (2000)
• Acoustica (2001)
• Unbreakable (2004)
• Humanity - Hour 1 (2007)
• Sting in the Tail (2010)
• Comeblack (2011)

With Black Sheep

• Sacrifice (1999)

Kottak

• Greatist Hits (1998)
• Therupy
• Rock & Roll Forever
• Attack (2011)

References

External links

• Official James Kottak page