James Kottak

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James Kottak
Kottak performing in 2014
Background information
Born	(1962-12-26)December 26, 1962 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	January 9, 2024(2024-01-09) (aged 61) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Drummer
Years active	1980–2024
Formerly of	Scorpions Kingdom Come Kottak Montrose Warrant Buster Brown Wild Horses McAuley Schenker Group

James Kottak (December 26, 1962 – January 9, 2024) was an American drummer, best known for his work with the German hard rock band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. At the time of his firing from the band in 2016, he was their longest-serving drummer. Kottak was also an original member of Kingdom Come, of whom he was their drummer from 1987 to 1989 and again from 2018 to his death in 2024, and he had his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK. Other bands Kottak played for were Montrose, Warrant, Wild Horses, the McAuley Schenker Group, and Buster Brown.