Soul Drift

Made by Desecration

It saddens me to write that drummer, Witold “Vitek” Kiełtyka, of the Polish extreme metal band Decapitated passed away in a Russian hospital yesterday from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old.

Vitek & Decapitated vocalist Covan were hurt in an accident earlier in the week involving their tour bus & a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision. Members of the Polish band Crionics – who were sharing a tour bus with Decapitated – sustained broken bones & lacerations in the accident. Crionics vocalist/guitarist War-an said yesterday, “our drummer has a broken jaw, our keyboard player injuries to his wrist & I’m suffering from rib injuries. Covan is better as of today but is still in serious condition.”

Soul Drift wishes them all well & a quick recovery.

Here is what some of the metal community has had to say about the tragic passing of Vitek:

“It’s with deep shock and sadness we have received the tragic news of the death of Witold ‘Vitek’ Kieltyka, drummer in Decapitated, and we want to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We were really looking forward to touring North America with Decapitated, and the news of the accident came as a real shock. We also want to send our best well wishes to Adrian ‘Covan’ Kowanek, who also was injured in the accident, and we sincerely hope that he will recover soon.”
~ Amon Amarth

“Let it be known that we are shocked and saddened to hear about Vitek’s passing. Our condolences to his family and the other Decapitated members. We will be playing for him tonight [at Teatria in Oulu, Finland]. We wish Adrian ‘Covan’ Kowanek a quick recovery!”
~ Dimmu Borgir

“It’s with sad regret I learned this morning of the tragic passing of Witold ‘Vitek’ Kieltyka. I met him on the Nile tour. I was doing sound for Hypocrisy, and Decapitated was sharing a bus with us. He was a real cool dude and very down to earth. We had some good times on that tour. I’m just out of words with what happened. On behalf of all in Kataklysm, our deepest thoughts are with Vitek’s family and friends. We would also like to send positive messages to Adam ‘Covan’ to keep fighting to get better and come back to the stage soon.”
~ Jean-Francois Dagenais of Kataklysm

“I’m truly devastated about this untimely passing. Vitek was without a doubt one of the most talented and hard-working extreme metal drummers around. He was a great inspiration to me, a mind-blowing force behind the kit. To die at such a young age and in such dramatic circumstances is just horrible. My deepest condolences to his wife and child, his family and friends, and to the band. Vitek will be sorely missed. R.I.P. Vitek.”
~ Dirk Verbeuren of Soilwork

“It’s like a bad dream, I knew Vitek and every time Decapitated performed in Chicago area I spoke with him and the guys from the band; we know each other so long before even I came to U.S. I talked with him last time 6 or 7 months ago. He told me how happy he is with his wife and how great is to perform and playing drums around the world, especially in United States. He was so young and so excited about to be a part of metal scene… It’s the most devastating thing happened in the whole metal community – I guess. We lost great young person who was one of the most talented drummers on death metal genre and such a nice joking and laughing person from the bands I know. R.I.P. Vitek. Deepest condolences to his family. I am crying now and my all thoughts are with him in this tough time.”
~ Varyen Chylynski of Against The Plagues
Source: Blabbermouth

Official Site | MySpace