Kottak

KOTTAK is:
Jimmy Ratchitt, lead vocals/guitar
Athena, drums/vocals
Chris Sheridan, lead guitar
Rev Jones, bass/vocals
Kottak—formerly known as Krunk—has arrived...
with its Cheap Trick-meets-Green-Day-on-a-bad-day Escapi Music debut, therupy. Vocalist/Guitarist Jimmy Ratchitt has been a songwriter all his life. As James Kottak, he drummed for Kingdom Come, and, for the last 10 years, has been behind the big kit for German rock legends, The Scorpions. (“It’s the ultimate day job,” he wisecracks.) On drums for Kottak is Athena, who is way hotter than her brother Tommy Lee. Athena can definitely hold her own behind the drums. Guitarist Chris Sheridan (former Sweet Savage) and Rev Jones (of MSG) round out this combustible quartet.
Regarding the name change from Krunk to Kottak, “it’s obvious,” says Ratchitt. “When we started in 1998, Krunk was an original name, but in recent days there are Krunk skateboards, rappers, you name it. We felt we should honor our music with a more original band name,” adds Athena, “hence Kottak.”
They’ve been calling this kind of music punk’n’roll in London of late and that’s just fine with Ratchitt who screams, “I’m a punk’n’roller, dude!” Athena shares in the songwriting with Ratchitt, who admits, “In 2000, we couldn’t get arrested so we formed our own sub-label, S.N.U.G. Records, to put out the band’s ironically-named first release, greatist hits. Krunk survived despite Jimmy drumming worldwide with Scorpions, a downsizing music business, and Athena being diagnosed with cancer. The band steadfastly toured, performing hundreds of stateside shows, as well as shows in Japan and Germany.
It wasn’t long before Jimmy and Athena, during a furious stretch of songwriting, were contacted by several labels, ultimately, with the help of Wolfgang Rott, accepting a deal from Escapi Music in January of 2006. Eight months later, therupy is on the streets containing 10 originals—including “Ripped,” “High (In My Room),” “Pink/Soft,” “Song That Won’t Go Away,” “Life Support—and two covers, the Scorpions’ “Holiday” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Money Changes Everything.”
The best has now arrived for Kottak.
Rev, James and Chris use Dean Guitars , Dean Markley strings and LM Straps.
Athena plays D Drum and Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals and Ahead drumsticks - a big thank you for providing us with such great instruments!
Congrats to Kottak for winning best new album, "therupy," and to Athena for winning best female drummer at the All Access Magazine Awards!
Athena just did a great interview with Modern Drummer - check it out here!
Other KOTTAK websites:
www.kottak.net
www.krunkland.com
www.jameskottak.com
Escapi Music, Inc.
14 Vanderventer Ave. #L-2
Port Washington NY 11050
To buy CD's, go to: cduniverse.com
Visit Rick Steier's Photo Light Frames
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4