In a recent discussion with Anthony Bryant from The Hair Metal Guru, Rick Steier, guitarist for KINGDOM COME, shared his thoughts on the unfortunate passing of the band’s drummer, James Kottak, in January 2024. Kottak, who was candid about his struggle with alcoholism, died in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 61. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Steier also spoke about the band’s controversial performance at the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2022, which was labeled the event’s “biggest mishap” by the Swedish site Rocknytt.
Rick mentioned during the interview (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “During our 2018 reunion tour, James was drinking throughout, and we tried to manage it. Some shows he played in a slower tempo, similar to what happened at Sweden Rock. He would sneak drinks even after leaving SCORPIONS. He didn’t leave SCORPIONS voluntarily; he was dismissed, which was unfortunate. Despite this, he stayed friends with members Rudolf Schenker, Matthias Jabs, and Klaus Meine. I attended a SCORPIONS concert in L.A. where Mikkey Dee was on drums, and watching it with James beside me, I became emotional. It was hard seeing him not up there after 17 years. James was a close friend, and losing his position due to alcohol was tough. A booking agent once remarked that you must be deeply entrenched in alcoholism to lose such a prime spot in rock music. The SCORPIONS are a top-tier band, and to see them with another drummer was emotional for me. James would assure me he wasn’t drinking during shows, but Matthias revealed in an interview that they had tried to help James get sober for years, even sending him to Eric Clapton’s Crossroads center in Antigua for six months. He returned sober, and I thought things would improve.”
Regarding the Sweden Rock Festival in 2022, Rick explained: “We were accustomed to his performance style by then. We would inform bartenders at venues and hotels not to serve him alcohol. However, James would ask fans to buy him drinks, managing to circumvent our efforts. It was challenging to prevent, and we were concerned because he was intoxicated the night before during rehearsal. We rehearsed in our hotel room, planning the set and transitions between songs. In the middle of it, he left for his room and couldn’t play afterward. When you’re an alcoholic, a couple of drinks can quickly bring you back to an impaired state.”
“Our agent warned us that the Sweden Rock organizers might withhold payment due to our poor performance,” Rick continued. “I argued that we still performed, albeit poorly due to James’s condition. He was visibly unwell, and it was a sad situation. Although the Sweden performance was a mess, we still sounded decent, just at a slower pace.”
Reflecting on the need to replace James with SLAUGHTER’s Blas Elias for most performances in the months leading to Kottak’s death, Rick stated: “I told the band we needed a new drummer. James’s reliability was a constant worry for me. I insisted on a change, even if it meant going on my own. Eventually, after another incident, we decided to let James go. He later called me, unaware of our previous conversation. It was heartbreaking to realize he was perpetually intoxicated. We tried interventions, but nothing worked. Finally, I spoke to his family in Kentucky, urging them to bring him back home. They eventually did, but he continued his lifestyle there. His brother later informed me of his passing.”
Rick added: “James wasn’t using drugs, just drank himself to death. It was devastating.”
Rick noted that James’s drinking issues seemed to worsen during his time with SCORPIONS. “James claimed he didn’t drink on tour with SCORPIONS,” Rick said. “But I learned he would sneak drinks during dinners with promoters. Matthias told me James once fell off his drums during a solo, which may have been the final straw for the band.”
When asked if he was surprised by Kottak’s dismissal from SCORPIONS due to his alcoholism, Rick replied: “No, I wasn’t. It was upsetting, as he was part of one of the greatest rock bands.”
Rick explained that James underestimated his influence within SCORPIONS. “He didn’t realize his worth,” Rick said. “I encouraged him to assert himself more. He was featured on the cover of their autobiography, which should have given him leverage. But he didn’t see it that way.”
In March 2024, KINGDOM COME bassist Johnny B. Frank shared his thoughts on Kottak’s death, telling Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live!: “I was James’s sponsor and feel partly responsible for his death. He was an alcoholic and in rehab when he passed.”
Johnny mentioned that KINGDOM COME’s 2018 reunion wasn’t their first attempt. “We tried in 2015 when Lenny Wolf was still involved,” he revealed. “James had a break from SCORPIONS, so we planned a reunion. But an incident with Valium and alcohol led Lenny to back out. We eventually leased the band name and moved forward.”
Discussing Kottak’s struggle with alcohol, Frank said: “He was a closet drinker and often denied his alcoholism. I was his sponsor, applying tough love, but he was dishonest about his condition. Our last conversation was a heated argument, which I regret deeply. I urged him to return to rehab, but he passed away shortly after.”
Beyond SCORPIONS and KINGDOM COME, Kottak played with bands like WARRANT and DIO. He was also involved in projects such as the 1990s band KRUNK, where he sang and played guitar.
Kottak was married to Athena Lee, sister of MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee, from 1996 to 2010.
