KINGDOM COME was a band that was seemingly right place right time 30 years ago when they hit the scene and released their first single ‘Get It On’ a song which held a stranglehold on radio all year (and beyond) and prompted their self-titled debut album to ship gold. The band comprised of guitarists Danny Stag and Rick Steier, bassist Johnny B. Frank, drummer James Kottak, and singer Lenny Wolf.
2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of that classic album prompting drummer James Kottak to revive Kingdom Come along with original members Danny Stag, Rick Steier, Johnny B. Frank, a tour to commemorate the success of the band and album is born. Original singer Lenny Wolf declined to participate in the tour, but wishes the rest of the guys all the success and best in the world! Keith St. John (formerly of Montrose & Lynch Mob) will be stepping up to fill that large void, “but is definitely up to the job” according to the band members. We caught up with drummer James Kottak to find out all about the tour and the possibility of new music from the band.
Mark: Hi James its Mark from The Rockpit down in Australia, how are you this morning?
James: Mark from the Rockpit, I’m good! I just got back from rehearsal, I’m now into my usual post rehearsal phone hook-ups, six or seven so far today which I don’t mind one bit. How are you today?
Mark: I’m very good thank you Sir. Plenty of calls means plenty of interest, that’s always a good thing.
James: Hey of course it is, I have to be grateful for all the attention because so far in the 18 or so interviews in the past week it’s been so positive and I thought it would be more like “OK cool Kingdom Come’s back, nice talking to you. See ya” (laughs)
Mark: (laughs) It’s a band and a period of time that means a lot to a lot of people that lived though it but also for younger fans who maybe didn’t get to see you all back in those early days. It’s great that it’s happening, and I know anniversaries come around more frequently as we get older but where did the impetus for this celebration and reunion come about?
James: Well I’d always stayed in touch with the original singer Lenny, whenever I was in Hamburg we’d meet up and he came over here once. I just kept bugging him over the years saying “We’ve gotta so this, we can do this in the off-season for the Scorpions” and when the Scorpions finally said “OK it’s time to say ‘farewell’ we’ve got this final album and a Tour that will take us around the world so we can say goodbye to everyone.” I thought this is the chance, so during this time period I was planning my next Kottak album and Project Rock with Rudy Sarzo, and the guys, which is now called ‘A New Revenge’ (laughs) and I know this is a lot of information! So I got Lenny and the boys and we all met up here in L.A. and we actually got in a rehearsal room we were up and running we had some great tours on offer in America and ten I got a call from Scorpions people and they said “Sorry James, you know what, can you not play with those bands” and I said “What?” and they said “Yeah we decided not to say ‘Farewell’ after all, we’re gonna do another album and another tour”. And I thought “Well that’s awesome” but it meant that of course I had to tell the other guys as my allegiance was always with Scorpions.
Mark: I went to The States to see that ‘Farewell’ tour back in 2010, wish I’d known it was still going to be still touring to this day!
James: Yeah (laughs) they’re great guys, and I ended up with 21 years with them. But back to the present day, I started talking to people this past October and I was still talking to Lenny and everything was good. And then he called and said to me “You know as you know I announced my retirement a year ago” and I said ‘What!?” and he just told me “Yeah, I just don’t want to do it.” It was just one of those things. He didn’t want to have to deal with all the madness and this and that so he chose not to do it. So I thought OK this might take a while, but the four of us were still in agreement, Danny Stag on guitars, Johnny Frank the bass player and Rick Steier on guitars, and so that was good. Then one singer came to mind who I’ve known for 30 years, and actually I wanted him in my other band, he sang with Montrose and I did an album with Montrose, so we have a lot in common. It was Keith St. John.
Mark: Great singer.
James: He’s an incredible singer I know, and a very cool guy, we’ve been friends for a long time and always got along so about three or four months ago he committed and I thought “Oh my God this is great” so now we’re up and running, rehearsing, doing all the tings a band needs to do to get up and running and it’s awesome. Everyone’s healthy and it’s a lot of fun because we’ve all been friends forever, myself and Rick are both from Louisville Kentucky and Johnny and I have known each other for a million years so we just all click and Keith is fitting in really well as well.
Mark: Sounds great and it sounds like you’re pretty excited about it too which is always good to hear.
James: I totally am (laughs)
Mark: Kingdom Come’s first two albums were classics and I’ve got both in front of me on vinyl as we speak. I know you’re going to be playing tracks from both of those releases but will there be any other surprises in the setlist for fans?
James: (laughs) We might pull a few punches, there might be a few surprises and stuff but the purpose of what we’re doing now is to get out there, do this six week tour around America and get some feedback, but I’ll tell ya, just talking to the journalists over the last few days I’m actually really started to get excited. You know Mark it’s a lot of work and it’s all about reconnecting – there’s a lot of radio and a lot of journalists in America but it’s great that people like you are interested all around the world. Most importantly though we want to get the feedback from our family and friends and fans around the country and see what it’s like out there, because you never know, people change and they get older! We just hope they’ll be bringing their kids and stuff! (laughs)
Mark: I hope so. I’ve not seen you in Kingdom Come since back in the day but last time on stage must have been that Scorpions first leg of the ‘Farewell’ tour when it stopped in Phoenix and Vegas in 2010. Then I saw Keith there in Vegas playing with ‘Raiding the Rock Vault’ so it will be great to see you all together on this tour. One of the highlights of that Scorpions tour of course was the ‘Kottak Attack’ drum solo, what are your plans for this tour?
James: Of course there’ll be a drum solo but it will be much different though because Kingdom Come is a lot different o the Scorpions. Kingdom come is more Hard Rock blues based and of course I have to do a drum solo but I’m coming up with a whole new shtick (laughs) It’ll be scaled down of course but it’ll be cool.
Mark: Can you take it all the way back for us, you’re life’s been spent in music for so long, Kingdom Come, many other memorable bands along the way, and as you said 21 years with the Scorpions; but what was it that started this crazy journey, where did it all begin? When did you know you were going to be a musician?
James: Oh that’s easy, I’m from Louisville Kentucky as I said, and there was this band that played around Louisville and their drummer quit and they hired me to fill in, I was 15 years old and they were like 22, 24, 25. Then they asked if I could go on the road as they had a tour that February, this is like playing clubs and opening for a few bands and I said I’d love to go but of course I’m in school (laughs) so I told them yes and when I told my Mom she was like “What!?” but she let me, and one of the band members became my legal guardian, she let me take a year off school to do this stupid tour!
Mark: (laughs)
James: And I came home and I said “I’m gonna do this forever” and so far I did because I’ve always been a huge fanatic about all these 70’s bands, Grand Funk, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and I could go on and on and on.
Mark: I guess that must have been pretty scary or maybe exciting for a fifteen year old?
James: It was nerve-wracking but I was surrounded by good guys, one of them worked in a High School, it wasn’t like I let free and could go nuts and start drinking. I had rules to follow and many of the bars we played in when we had a break I had to go into the kitchen or go outside, things like that. But it all worked somehow and I’m so fortunate to be where I am today.
Mark: You’ve been in so many bands over the years been involved in so many great albums not just the wonderful Kingdom Come but I loved that first Wild Horses album and your album with the McAuley Schenker Group too which I think was one of my favourites the band did.
James: Oh thank you, that was one of my favourites too.
Mark: Now from your albums to the albums that inspired you. If you could have been a fly on the wall just to see how any great album came together in the studio – what’s the album you’d like to have been there for?
James: Well ’Back in Black’ of course! Maybe some Zeppelin, but for me If I had to pick one then that would be it.
Mark: The great news for those of us in the States at the moment is that you do have the Kingdom Come tour cranking up ready to hit the road hot in September and October stopping off at all kinds of places including the World Famous Whisky-a-Go-Go. After that tour what’s next for the band?
James: Like I said this is a chance to see how it goes, get the vibe and take it slow, but already we’ve had a few offers for 2019. But that’s what we’ll do first – get out there, tour, reconnect and hopefully eventually make it down to Australia – I’ve never played in Australia!
Mark: I know. Scorpions never made it this far when you were with them though they seem to have played everywhere else over the years including many of our near neighbours! Last year they played their first show and they’re back this year.
James: Def Leppard, Scorpions I know! Scorpions were just here a week ago in L.A. and it was great to see them all again, we caught up it was great.
Mark: That sounds great let’s hope we do get to see you over here one day. Take care James, stay safe on the tour and talk soon.
James: Thank you so much maybe I’ll meet you over here on the tour, thanks Mark.
Kingdom Come will tour in 2018 – 2019 performing songs from their debut album along with music from their second album ‘In Your Face’.
Confirmed Kingdom Come Tour Dates:
9/27 Seattle, WA – Club Sur Rocks
9/28 Vancouver, WA – Cascade Bar & Grill
9/29 Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
10/3 West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go-Go
10/5 Las Vegas, NV – Vamp’d
10/6 Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage
10/7 Scottsdale, AZ – BLK Live
10/8 Santa Fe, NM – Camel Rock Casino
10/11 St. Charles, IL – The Arcada Theatre w/ Special Guests Killer Dwarfs
10/12 Westland, MI – The Token Lounge
10/13 Versailles, OH – BMI Indoor Speedway co-headlining with Autograph – special guests are Killer Dwarfs.
10/14 Louisville, KY – Bourbon Hall
10/17 Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s
10/18 Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre
10/19 Baltimore, MD – Fish Head Cantina
10/20 Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance ***Kingdom Come is direct support for Zebra
10/21 Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
10/23 New Bedford, MA – Greasy Luck Brewpub
10/26 Granite City, IL – Eddie’s Bar & Grill
10/27 Kansas City, MO – The Scene K.C. Rock Bar
Visit the band’s website (www.KingdomComeBand.com) for information on VIP Meet and Greets.
VISIT KINGDOM COME ONLINE:
www.KingdomComeBand.com (current lineup)
www.facebook.com/KingdomComeOfficial
www.youtube.com/KingdomComeTV
www.twitter.com/KingdomComeRock
www.instagram.com/kingdomcomeband
