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Friends of ex-Scorpions drummer James Kottak have recently expressed their concern for his well-being. Kottak is currently playing drums for Kingdom Come, who delivered a highly-criticized performance over this past weekend at a rock festival in Sweden.
Several publications and writers shared their sentiments about the performance, including Sweden’s own Rocknytt, which referred to Kingdom Come’s set as the festival’s “biggest f@#kup.” The article also pinpointed Kottak’s performance, saying that he played “really badly, sluggishly” and that he couldn’t keep up with the tempo [transcribed by Blabbermouth].
As Blabbermouth also noted, Metal Sludge founder Stevie Rachelle also posted about Kottak’s demeanor on his Facebook page after reading peoples’ reactions to Kingdom Come’s festival show.
“And… if [Kottak] dropped dead tomorrow in a hotel room from drinking himself to death, everyone would suddenly be silent and feeling so sorry for him,” Rachelle wrote. “This latest incident, and train-wreck of a performance by James Kottak, along with his past public displays of stupid drunken behavior that have landed him on the cover of TMZ and beyond for years, is exactly what [late Warrant frontman] Jani Lane was doing in his life for years, until those years were cut short.”
“James Kottak is Jani Lane in 2022… and the truth is, there is likely nobody who can save him, but himself,” he continued. “There have been bands, a wife, kids, and I am sure managers, family and friends who have tried., just like with Jani Lane… but… James Kottak is still alive. Whether he saves himself or not, only time will tell.”
Bassist Robbie Crane, who’s played in Ratt, the Vince Neil Band, Steven Adler’s band Adler’s Appetite and is currently a member of Black Star Riders, commented on Rachelle’s post, sharing his thoughts about Kottak’s state.
“This is a sad situation… James is a good dude… He’s a father, brother, son, husband, and friend… But sadly, you are correct… the only person that can save James is James. He has to want it,” Crane remarked. “But like so many before him, addiction fully has him… he is in the center of his own storm and sees nothing but peace around him… He doesn’t realize the physical damage he’s done to himself. Not yet anyway… if we tried to help would he hear us? I don’t know… Hopefully this situation will serve as a wake up call to him… All we can do is pray for him…”
According to Metal Sludge, KINGDOM COME has recruited Blas Elias (SLAUGHTER/Blueman Group) to play drums for the band while James Kottak is “recovering and getting his health together.”
KINGDOM COME singer Keith St. John, who joined the band in 2018 as the replacement for original frontman Lenny Wolf, announced Blas’s addition to KINGDOM COME’s touring lineup in a statement to Metal Sludge. He wrote: “Taking over the drum seat in KINGDOM COME for the time being while James is recovering and getting his health together will be my ‘Raiding The Rock Vault’ and BURNING RAIN brother…(drum roll please)… Blas Elias!
“Blas has been so kind to step in and fill in for James. At this point, we don’t know how long it might be, but thankfully Blas has an amazing feel for this music and is absolutely killing on it! It’s also fair to say that James has always mentioned that Blas is one of his favorite drummers.
“KINGDOM COME is greatly looking forward to seeing everyone in Dallas on September 23rd with JACK’S GREAT WHITE and BULLETBOYS and in San Antonio on September 24th with Lita Ford, LEGS DIAMOND, and MOXY! See you there.”
At the end of August, Kottak announced that he wouldn’t play with his KINGDOM COME bandmates at their upcoming concerts in Texas. In the early hours of Sunday morning (August 21),James took to his Twitter to write: “I will not be at the Kingdom Come Plano or San Antonio shows so don’t waste your time thanks jams k [sic]”.
Kottak played brief stints in several different bands, including Montrose in the ’80s and Warrant in the ’90s. He had originally been a member of Kingdom Come from 1987 until 1989, and then he joined the Scorpions in 1996 after his departure from Warrant. He remained Scorpions’ drummer until he was fired in 2016, and he rejoined Kingdom Come two years later.
Sources Blabbermouth and Loudwire
