SCORPIONS' American drummer James Kottak has rejoined the band on the road eight months after he spent a month in a Dubai, United Arab Emirates jail in April for insulting Islam.

Kottak, who has been receiving treatment for alcohol abuse, released a statement in early June in which he said "this entire incident caused me to realize that it is time to stop drinking once and for all so that I can become the father, musician, and friend that I know I can be."

For SCORPIONS' recent concerts, Swedish drummer Johan Franzon filled in for Kottak.

Because of his arrest, Kottak did not perform with his bandmates at the April 5 show at the 2014 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix and was replaced at the gig by Mark Cross (TAINTED NATION, FIREWIND, OUTLOUD, HELLOWEEN, METALLIUM).