Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Scorpions’ drummer James Kottak about his time in the Scorpions and in Kingdom Come.

Watch the interview below.

In the interview he was asked if he had any idea he is going to be replaced and if he knew his replacement was Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee, Kottak said, “Honestly, no but if you’re going to replace me, get somebody really good. Mikkey is a great drummer. I met him when he was starting with Don Dokken and great guy. I’ve seen him play with King Diamond. Over the years we have been running into each other.  I was in Antigua at the thing (Eric Clapton’s Crossroads rehab in 2016) and I talked to the guys about once a week or so but I never had any indication that anything was going to change. And that there was only a handful of shows booked for the whole year, it was only like maybe 10 shows (left). So they got some kid from Greece to fill in and then they kept going, man you’ve got to stay there ( at rehab) stay there all you want, so I’m like oh okay, so I did and anything seemed cool. Then once I came back to L.A. in July and we didn’t talk about splitting ways until November or something, so  I was actually really surprised about that. They’re smart guys man they got her business to run. And as they would say they’re in their Twilight years so to speak and they just didn’t want to take any chances on any trouble and I don’t blame them. I was really surprised and taken off guard. I think we were on the phone that day for like two and a half hours going back and forth back and forth and stuff and uh but they were so good to me. “

James Kottak is best known for his work with the German hard rock band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. He was their all-time longest-serving drummer, surpassing Herman Rarebell, who spent 18 years in the band.

Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was a drummer for the Bob Brickley Band, Nut House, Mister Charlie, Buster Brown, Montrose, Kingdom Come, Wild Horses, the McAuley Schenker Group, Warrant, and Ashba.

Albums with Kingdom Come

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

Albums with Scorpions

• Eye II Eye (1999)
• Moment of Glory (2000)
• Acoustica (2001)
• Unbreakable (2004)
• Humanity – Hour 1 (2007)
• Sting in the Tail (2010)
• Live 2011: Get Your Sting & Blackout (2011)
• Comeblack (2011)
• MTV Unplugged – Live in Athens (2013)
• Return to Forever (2015)