Written by: Alex Green

Drummer James Kottak has died.

The Kentucky-born musician was 61.

As of now, no details have been shared regarding Kottak’s death.

Kottak was the original drummer of the German hard rock band Kingdom Come and played on their first two albums. After leaving the band in 1989, he stayed rather busy, stepping behind kit for Dio, Wild Horses, The McAuley Schenker Group, Warrant and Buster Brown.

He joined the Cult in 1990 but left before the recording of their Ceremony album.

He became the drummer of the Scorpions in 1996 and stayed with the band until 2016.

Kottak was married to Tommy Lee’s sister Athena, with whom he shared three children.

The couple divorced in 2010.