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:

I'm watching your photos , listening you , and can't understand : Where're you? What happened with you? :(( #np Kottak – I Miss You

— Starlight (@Ksenia_Scorps) April 28, 2014

Scorpions is not Scorpions without James Kottak!!! Cross Attak whf?!?!

— МАРУСЕЧКА (@Windofchange3) April 28, 2014

We don't want another drummer! We want James Kottak! Share this! @JKottak pic.twitter.com/92Ax8tqAN0

— FanPage James Kottak (@FPJamesKottak) April 27, 2014

KOTTAK, MY IDOL! WE MISS YOU :'( .. ROCK & ROLL FOREVER \m/ @JKottak @FPJamesKottak #JamesKottak #Scorpions pic.twitter.com/jxcHc1YC90

— SCORPI ♡ (@JoanaScorpiana) April 29, 2014

Image via Wikimedia Commons