KOTTAK
Bataclan - Paris, France
October 19 2011

Some musicians are restless, and James Kottak is one of those.
While The Scorpions are taking a break from their Farewell Tour (next gigs on this site: Bordeaux and Paris), drummer James Kottak booked his own tour with Edguy.

If you've seen a Scorpions show recently, you've noticed that James Kottak is not only the band behind the drums. He's a showman, and his Kottak Attack drum solo has achieved worldwide fame.

If that's how he is behind his drumkit, imagine how crazy can he be as a lead singer!
By the way, if you haven't seen a Scorpions show, check the tourdates on their website and get your ass to the next one. It's their Farewell tour so this is your last chance!

Kottak is a very good rock band with some punk influences.
Don't expect high-ocatane Judas Priest style heavy metal. They're more kindly to remind you of the Foo Fighters than Iron Maiden.

But before you noticed, you'll be singing the choruses of their songs!

The band was completed by Nils Wandrey on bass and Francis Ruiz on drums.
On guitars, there's Stephanie Smith from the hard rock band Kliveland.
The drum solo was shared: Francis started it but James couldn't resist and seated on his drumkit.

After the solo, James played drums on the song You're Not Sorry, while Stephanie did the lead vocals.

One cover song made it into the setlist, for those who couldn't wait for the next Scorpions concert in Paris.

Kottak asked the girls what was their favourite Scorpions song: Still Loving You? No one Like You? Rock You Like A Hurricane?
The band delivered his own big balls version of Holiday, James Kottak's favourite Scorpions song as he said.
Interessing, fast and heavy: how to turn a slow beautiful ballad into a powerful rock song.

The concert turned into James Kottak's own fashion show.
He started the gig with a red shirt, that he took off before he went to play drums.

After this, he wore a T-shirt from Katy Perry!

He took it off, and he had a shirt from Karelia, the French band that opened the show tonight... but under this one he still had an Edguy T-shirt and another one from Scorpions!

After singing Holiday, one more shirt was left: this time from his own band, Kottak.

James said that anyone who's ever lost someone close would understand the the song Time To Say Goodbye. He decided to dedicated it to Ronnie James Dio.

He was very thankful towards the audience and the French fans. He even said that this looked like a house party and that he'll get a drink with us after the show.
And so he did, during Edguy's concert, James was in the audience, meeting his fans.

The last song was a groovy and powerful version of Rock & Roll Forever.

It was a very pleasant surprise to discover the band Kottak on stage!

Many people came to this concert mainly for Kottak. Some folks even left the Bataclan after his show!

I'll catch James Kottak later this year in Bordeaux and Paris but for a very different kind of show, with the Scorpions.

For tonight, the next band on stage was Edguy!
Click here for Edguy live in Paris.

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Setlist Kottak – Bataclan - Paris, France – October 19 2011

Kottak Links:

Kottak Line-up: