Ex-Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer James Kottak has died aged 61.
The musician’s daughter Tobi told TMZ Kottak died Tuesday morning in Louisville, Kentucky.
His cause of death is currently unknown.
Kottak was best known for being the drummer in German rock band Scorpions – whose hits include Rock You Like a Hurricane and No One Like You – from 1996-2016, and was their longest serving band member.
He was fired from the band due to his alcoholism in September 2016 and replaced by former Motorhead member Mikkey Dee.
![Ex-Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer James Kottak has died aged 61](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/09/20/79815575-0-image-a-1_1704833005613.jpg)
Ex-Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer James Kottak has died aged 61
![Kottak was best known for being the drummer in German rock band Scorpions from 1996-2016 (pictured 2010)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/09/20/79815577-12944489-image-a-11_1704833202342.jpg)
Kottak was best known for being the drummer in German rock band Scorpions from 1996-2016 (pictured 2010)
Kottak was also an original member of Kingdom Come, serving as their drummer from 1987 to 1989 and again from 2018 to his death.
He played in his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK and had been a drummer in bands Montrose, Warrant, Dio, the McAuley Schenker Group and Buster Brown.
Kottak was married to Tommy Lee’s younger sister Athena Bass from 1996-2010 – the former couple shared son Matthew, now 27. Athena is also mom to Tobi, 33, and son Miles, 31 from previous relationships.