Former Scorpions drummer James Kottak has died at the age of 61. The veteran rocker was also a member of another notable German rock band, Kingdom Come.
No cause of death is immediately known, but Kottak’s passing was confirmed by his daughter Tobi, who told TMZ that the drummer died Tuesday morning in his birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky.
Kottak was a member of Scorpions from 1996 through 2016, appearing on all albums from 1999’s Eye II Eye to 2015’s Return to Forever. After 20 years in the band, he was fired for alcoholism, and replaced by Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee, who remains a current member of Scorpions.
Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was an original member of Kingdom Come in the 1980s, and rejoined the group a couple years after his dismissal from Scorpions. He was an active member of the band up until his passing.
Additionally, Kottak had stints in such acts as Warrant,...
No cause of death is immediately known, but Kottak’s passing was confirmed by his daughter Tobi, who told TMZ that the drummer died Tuesday morning in his birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky.
Kottak was a member of Scorpions from 1996 through 2016, appearing on all albums from 1999’s Eye II Eye to 2015’s Return to Forever. After 20 years in the band, he was fired for alcoholism, and replaced by Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee, who remains a current member of Scorpions.
Prior to joining Scorpions, Kottak was an original member of Kingdom Come in the 1980s, and rejoined the group a couple years after his dismissal from Scorpions. He was an active member of the band up until his passing.
Additionally, Kottak had stints in such acts as Warrant,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Drummer Mikkey Dee has doubled down on his previous assertion: No Lemmy, no Motörhead.
After stating earlier this year that he and guitarist Phil Campbell — the remaining members of the band — would never tour under the Motörhead name again, Dee clarified his comments in a new interview with Chaoszine.
Although he said he will still continue to play Motörhead songs in other capacities, like his Mikkey Dee and Friends collective, performing as Motörhead with a replacement for late frontman Lemmy Kilmister is not an option.
“I said, ‘We will never, ever get back together and replace Lemmy. That’s impossible,'” said Dee, referring to his March interview. “I said, ‘But doing little constellations, doing some tribute stuff, that’s great.’ That’s very, very different. And I think [the press] said something, ‘Mikkey will never play Motörhead [songs] again.’ … I said that’s not what I said at all. Of course I will play Motörhead.
After stating earlier this year that he and guitarist Phil Campbell — the remaining members of the band — would never tour under the Motörhead name again, Dee clarified his comments in a new interview with Chaoszine.
Although he said he will still continue to play Motörhead songs in other capacities, like his Mikkey Dee and Friends collective, performing as Motörhead with a replacement for late frontman Lemmy Kilmister is not an option.
“I said, ‘We will never, ever get back together and replace Lemmy. That’s impossible,'” said Dee, referring to his March interview. “I said, ‘But doing little constellations, doing some tribute stuff, that’s great.’ That’s very, very different. And I think [the press] said something, ‘Mikkey will never play Motörhead [songs] again.’ … I said that’s not what I said at all. Of course I will play Motörhead.
- 9/28/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
A major tribute to late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister took place this week at the Wacken Open Air music festival in Germany. The festivities featured a parade, communal toasts, and an enshrinement of the rock icon’s ashes at Lemmy’s Bar in the village of Wacken, along with a surprise performance from surviving Motörhead members Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee.
Campbell and Dee first participated in a parade featuring floats carrying hundreds of diehard Motörhead fans. The parade began at the festival site and went through the village of Wacken to Lemmy’s Bar. At the tavern, fans witnessed Campbell and Dee put Lemmy’s ashes — which are housed in a mini version of his custom urn — in a glass display next to his hat, boots, bass guitar, and Marshall stack.
The bar also featured a re-creation of Lemmy’s “Dressing Room,” which included all of Lemmy’s “favorite things,...
Campbell and Dee first participated in a parade featuring floats carrying hundreds of diehard Motörhead fans. The parade began at the festival site and went through the village of Wacken to Lemmy’s Bar. At the tavern, fans witnessed Campbell and Dee put Lemmy’s ashes — which are housed in a mini version of his custom urn — in a glass display next to his hat, boots, bass guitar, and Marshall stack.
The bar also featured a re-creation of Lemmy’s “Dressing Room,” which included all of Lemmy’s “favorite things,...
- 8/4/2023
- by Anne Erickson
- Consequence - Music
Two of Motörhead’s surviving members, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, participated in enshrining the ashes of the band’s late frontman, Lemmy Kilmister, in a ceremony at the Wacken Open Air heavy metal festival in Germany this week. Video from the event shows the two musicians holding what looks like a small pyramid with Kilmister’s signature Civil War–styled Hardee hat perched above it before placing it in a display case.
Dee explained in the video how much a memorial like this meant to him. They...
Dee explained in the video how much a memorial like this meant to him. They...
- 8/4/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
In a new interview, drummer Mikkey Dee says there will “never” be a tour billed under the Motörhead name following the 2015 passing of frontman Lemmy Kilmister. That said, the surviving members of the band still intend to cover Motörhead songs in other live formats.
“No,” Dee said when asked by The Metal Voice podcast about a hypothetical Motörhead reunion [as transcribed by Blabbermouth]. “I really don’t think [the fans] want us to do that. That, to me, is stepping over the line. We will never, ever, ever tour with Motörhead as a name ever and bring someone else in [to play Lemmy’s parts]. That will never happen. But what we are doing is doing some shows here and there.”
Dee goes on to say that he’s recently performed Motörhead songs with other musicians and that is was “great to play the old classics again.”
“But it has nothing to do with trying to be Motörhead,...
“No,” Dee said when asked by The Metal Voice podcast about a hypothetical Motörhead reunion [as transcribed by Blabbermouth]. “I really don’t think [the fans] want us to do that. That, to me, is stepping over the line. We will never, ever, ever tour with Motörhead as a name ever and bring someone else in [to play Lemmy’s parts]. That will never happen. But what we are doing is doing some shows here and there.”
Dee goes on to say that he’s recently performed Motörhead songs with other musicians and that is was “great to play the old classics again.”
“But it has nothing to do with trying to be Motörhead,...
- 3/2/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Stand Up And Shout For Ronnie James Dio’S Birthday, Saturday, July 10 global virtual concert produced by Rolling Live Studios, has added a wealth of talent to the already star-studded lineup that will bring together unusual musical pairings for one-of-a-kind performances, special birthday messages and artist interviews.
The event, hosted on rollinglivestudios.com beginning at 2:00Pm Pacific time (Pdt), will benefit The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org), founded in memory of the late heavy metal icon who was the voice of Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio before losing his battle with gastric cancer in 2010.
The global fundraising event will bring together celebrities and fans all over the world to honor Dio’s undeniable impact both on and off the stage. Among the artists joining the roster for conversations and/or performances are Rob Halford (Judas Priest); Sammy Hagar; Tenacious D’s...
The event, hosted on rollinglivestudios.com beginning at 2:00Pm Pacific time (Pdt), will benefit The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org), founded in memory of the late heavy metal icon who was the voice of Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio before losing his battle with gastric cancer in 2010.
The global fundraising event will bring together celebrities and fans all over the world to honor Dio’s undeniable impact both on and off the stage. Among the artists joining the roster for conversations and/or performances are Rob Halford (Judas Priest); Sammy Hagar; Tenacious D’s...
- 7/5/2021
- Look to the Stars
Motörhead rip through their 1983 track “Rock It” in this clip from the metal band’s upcoming live album Louder Than Noise… Live in Berlin, due out Aprll 23rd.
The performance — featuring the trio of Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, Phil Campbell, and Mikkey Dee — was recorded on December 5, 2012, at the Berlin Velodrom, where the band delivered a hits-filled set that captured Motörhead in all its glory three years before Kilmister’s 2015 death
Louder Than Noise… Live in Berlin, available to preorder now, will arrive in a variety of formats, including digital, two-lp black vinyl,...
The performance — featuring the trio of Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, Phil Campbell, and Mikkey Dee — was recorded on December 5, 2012, at the Berlin Velodrom, where the band delivered a hits-filled set that captured Motörhead in all its glory three years before Kilmister’s 2015 death
Louder Than Noise… Live in Berlin, available to preorder now, will arrive in a variety of formats, including digital, two-lp black vinyl,...
- 4/9/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, one of the most influential musicians of his generation, is to be given the biopic treatment.
Lemmy, which will take a look under the bass strings of the man, who along with Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor wrote Ace of Spades, will be directed by Greg Olliver, who helmed the 2010 documentary Lemmy.
It will follow Kilmister’s life growing up in Stoke on Trent, becoming a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and a member of seminal psychedelic rock band Hawkwind before establishing Motörhead. The latter is widely considered to have paved the way for bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax as well as Foo Fighters, whose frontman Dave Grohl famously gave a tribute to Lemmy at his funeral.
The film will be taken to Cannes by Vmi Worldwide, whose Andre Relis will produce alongside Damon Lane. The screenplay was written by Medeni Griffiths with additional writing by Greg Olliver.
Lemmy, which will take a look under the bass strings of the man, who along with Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor wrote Ace of Spades, will be directed by Greg Olliver, who helmed the 2010 documentary Lemmy.
It will follow Kilmister’s life growing up in Stoke on Trent, becoming a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and a member of seminal psychedelic rock band Hawkwind before establishing Motörhead. The latter is widely considered to have paved the way for bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax as well as Foo Fighters, whose frontman Dave Grohl famously gave a tribute to Lemmy at his funeral.
The film will be taken to Cannes by Vmi Worldwide, whose Andre Relis will produce alongside Damon Lane. The screenplay was written by Medeni Griffiths with additional writing by Greg Olliver.
- 6/16/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Following an uproar from Motörhead’s fans and surviving members, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has added drummer Mikkey Dee and guitarist Phil Campbell to the list of eligible band members on the ballot for the class of 2020 nominations.
Both Dee and Campbell weren’t included in the band’s original nomination – the ballot only recognized original members Lemmy Kilmister, “Fast” Eddie Clarke and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor – even though they were in Motörhead longer than the musicians they replaced.
Following news of the nomination change, Motörhead posted...
Both Dee and Campbell weren’t included in the band’s original nomination – the ballot only recognized original members Lemmy Kilmister, “Fast” Eddie Clarke and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor – even though they were in Motörhead longer than the musicians they replaced.
Following news of the nomination change, Motörhead posted...
- 10/20/2019
- by Ilana Kaplan
- Rollingstone.com
Motorhead guitarist Eddie Clarke is dead. Clarke, who went by "Fast Eddie," died peacefully after fighting pneumonia. He was the last of the OGs from the band. Motorhead frontman Lemmy (aka Ian Kilmister) and bandmate Phil Taylor died 2 years ago. The current drummer, Mikkey Dee was clearly shocked, posting, "I saw Eddie not too long ago and he was in great shape." The band formed in '75 and they produced some monster songs, including "Motorhead" and "Ace of Spades.
- 1/11/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Hundreds gathered for Motorhead frontman Lemmy's memorial service Saturday at Forest Lawn in Hollywood. A livestream with almost 250k viewers broadcast the event for the rock star's fans around the world. His son, friends, Triple H, band mate Mikkey Dee and producer Bob Kulick spoke about some of their favorite memories with Lemmy. A custom made urn replicating his signature hat was even there made by Foreverence. He passed away last month after battling...
- 1/9/2016
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Following the sudden death of legendary Motörhead front man Lemmy Kilmister on Monday, the band decided to retire in his honor. Motörhead's current drummer, Mikkey Dee, confirmed to Swedish press shortly after news of Lemmy's death broke that they will not continue as a band without their founder: "Motörhead is over, of course. We won’t be doing any more tours or anything. And there won’t be any more records. But the brand survives, and Lemmy lives on in the hearts of everyone." Motörhead recently wrapped up their final tour in Berlin, in support of their 22nd and final album, an end to the band's long, loud career that Dee now says he's surprised Lemmy was able to see. "He was terribly gaunt, he spent all his energy on stage and afterwards he was very, very tired," he says. "It’s incredible that he could even play,...
- 12/29/2015
- by Dee Lockett
- Vulture
Motorhead star Lemmy has launched his own brand of wine. The 65-year-old rocker - who is joined in the band by Phil Campbell, and Mikkey Dee - has created a bottle of Australian Shiraz wine which features flavours of vanilla, blackberries, plums and liquorice. However, he has warned fans, who will pay £14.40 a bottle, to be wary of drinking too much. He said: 'Wine is deceptive. Anything can happen.' It is recommended the red wine be drunk with lamb chops seasoned with garlic. Ewen Cameron from Great Wine Online - which is selling the alcohol in the UK - adds it is the...
- 9/30/2011
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
The sounds of the 70s are back with the 20th studio album of Motorhead. The legendary rock and rollers are set to release The World is Yours on February 8th and we think it would make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for just about any music lover of any age. The World is Yours is written and performed by Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, Philip Campbell and Mikkey Dee and produced by Cameron Webb, who also took part in the production of Motorizer. Lemmy is well into his 60s, but from the looks of it in the band’s video for the lead single, “Get Back in Line”, he can tear just about any 20 [...]...
- 1/28/2011
- by lonnie
- ShockYa
The cover says “49% Motherfucker. 51% Son of a Bitch”. It’s talking about a certain Lemmy Kilmister, the greatest front-man’s name fittingly attached to one of heavy metal’s bona-fide living legends and the incomparable lead singer of rock behemoths Motorhead, who, despite ageing disgracefully are still at the top of their game.
This documentary, released yesterday on Blu-ray and DVD – a loving portrait at the music legend- boasts a stellar cast, all queuing up to lavish praise on the man and his band; from Metallica, Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Jarvis Cocker, Joan Jett, Billy Bob Thornton, Slash, to pro wrestler Triple H, and members of The Clash, Guns N Roses, Jane’s Addiction, and more, the film offers a rare and revealing look at Lemmy’s life with candid at-home interviews, studio sessions, and priceless live concert footage. Read on for the full review…
Musicians make the...
This documentary, released yesterday on Blu-ray and DVD – a loving portrait at the music legend- boasts a stellar cast, all queuing up to lavish praise on the man and his band; from Metallica, Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Jarvis Cocker, Joan Jett, Billy Bob Thornton, Slash, to pro wrestler Triple H, and members of The Clash, Guns N Roses, Jane’s Addiction, and more, the film offers a rare and revealing look at Lemmy’s life with candid at-home interviews, studio sessions, and priceless live concert footage. Read on for the full review…
Musicians make the...
- 1/25/2011
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
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