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  • Scorpions Drummer Jailed for a Month in Dubai

    Scorpions Drummer Jailed for a Month in Dubai

    Scorpions drummer James Kottak was arrested at Dubai International Airport for drunk and disorderly conduct on April 3, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail for the crime of insulting Islam. According to Dubai state-run newspaper The National, Kottak flipped the bird and mooned other travelers while in an airport transit hall.

    Kottak told police he had taken a wrong turn on his way to a Formula One grand prix gig in Bahrain, and subsequently denied flashing his middle finger, dropping his pants or insulting Islam.

    A witness described as ‘Officer AA’ said he heard Kottak saying “what is this disgusting smell?” before insulting Islam. “I didn’t see anything else but I heard him. I then informed my supervisor, who came and took the defendant away,” AA added. A Jordanian passenger services agent called ‘AB’ said that Kottak was shouting “non-educated Muslims” and then gave other passengers the middle finger.

    Kottak has been sitting in a Dubai jail since the incident, and will soon be released, having logged some time served. Kottak did plead guilty to being intoxicated without a license, and paid a fine of roughly $550. The drummer also explained that he was merely showing people his back tattoo, not mooning. During his misdemeanor trial, Kottak’s attorney Hamid Al Khazraji told the judge, “Their testimonies are contradictory, your honor.”

    Scorpions are a German rock band formed in 1965, and have sold between 75 and 100 million records worldwide. Here is a bit of a Scorpions refresher:

    Awesome.

    James Kottack, 51, of Louisville, Kentucky joined the band in 1996, and was previously married to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee’s sister Althena.

    Here is Kottak doing a drum solo at a Scorpions gig:

    Kottak’s fans took to Twitter, relaying some confusion regarding the missing musician:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Slipknot Says Goodbye to Drummer

    Slipknot Says Goodbye to Drummer

    Slipknot is without one of its founding members.

    Drummer, Joey Jordison decided to part ways with the rock band after almost two decades. The news was made public on the band’s website. According to the statement, the split was made for “personal reasons.”

    To our Maggots and fans around the world,

    It is with great pain but quiet respect, that for personal reasons Joey Jordison and Slipknot are parting ways. We all wish Joey the best in whatever his future holds. We understand that many of you will want to know how and why this has come to be, and we will do our best to respond to these questions in the near future. It is our love for all of you, as well as for the music we create, that spurs us to continue on and move forward with our plans for releasing new material in the next year. We hope that all of you will come to understand this, and we appreciate your continued support while we plan the next phase of the future of Slipknot.

    Thank you,
    The ‘Knot

    Jordison has worked with rock band Murderdolls also toured with Korn, Rob Zombie and many more.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wws7mnMewPw

    Photo Credit: YouTube

  • Ringo Starr Brings Back His ‘Octopus’s Garden’

    Seventy-three-year-old drummer and legendary Beatle, Ringo Starr, is a man of many talents.

    Last year he was named the richest drummer in the world and has released 16 solo albums. Quite impressive for someone who famously proclaims to have never studied drums in the first place.

    While he has already taken the music world by storm, now he is also taking the literary world by storm. Ringo Starr is combining his talents with illustrator Ben Cort and publisher Simon & Schuster to bring the world a picture book from his popular hit, Octopus’s Garden. The well-known song was originally from the 1969 album, Abbey Road. The October release will also include a CD with Ringo singing a special track of the song as well as reading the children’s book itself.

    “It gives me great pleasure to collaborate with Ben Cort and Simon & Schuster for the further adventures of Octopus’s Garden. Peace and love,” Ringo Starr said.

    Ringo Starr left details about purchasing the book on his Facebook page. UK fans are able to purchase the book through a direct website, while fans in other areas are advised to look at Amazon or local retailers to get their hands on the book.

    The song was well-liked for having catchy beats as well as a soft peaceful melody. George Harrison had once famously both teased and praised Ringo for the creation of the song.

    “‘Octopus’s Garden’ is Ringo’s song. It’s only the second song Ringo has ever written, mind you, and it’s lovely,” George Harrison said.

    Fans are already talking about the release.

    [Images Via Ringo Starr’s Facebook Page]

  • Ed Shaughnessy Dies; Tonight Show Drummer Was 84

    Tonight Show drummer Ed Shaughnessy has died at the age of 84. According to a Los Angeles Times obituary, Shaughnessy suffered a heart attack on May 24 at his home in Calabasas, California.

    Shaughnessy grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey in the 1930s and began playing drums while in his teens. He soon began playing jazz drums in New York City and became a staff musician at CBS in the 1950s. He also became a well-known big band drummer, playing with stars such as Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.

    In 1963, Shaughnessy joined the Tonight Show Band, playing drums throughout the show’s Johnny Carson years. He played for most of his tenure at the Tonight Show under bandleader Doc Severinsen.

    After Jay Leno took over for Carson on the Tonight Show in 1992, Shaughnessy continued teaching drumming privately and at clinics throughout the U.S.

    One of Shaughnessy’s career highlights was a 1978 drumming “competition” on the Tonight Show against another legendary drummer, Buddy Rich. The moment went on to become one of the Carson-era Tonight Show’s most memorable moments: