"The metal community has lost one of the most talented and skillful drummers of our time! I remember when I first heard DECAPITATED's 'Organic Hallucinosis' and it just blew me away! What a band and WHAT A DRUMMER!!! Vitek was a true talent and drummer genius and his passing is just so very, very wrong! The future will be a sadder place without your drumming!!! Our thoughts go out to the band and to their families in this sad, sad moment.
"Rest in peace, Vitek."
Tomas Haake, Meshuggah
"It's still so abstract to me…I don't know what to say, don't know what to do. This morning's news brought a lot of pain in our lives and some reflections at the same time.
"We're not only missing a dear friend but also a great talent. It was so awesome to watch DECAPITATED growing bigger and bigger with every step they made.
"We just went off the stage in Denver, Colorado. Tonight we didn't play for ourselves; we didn't play for these people either. All we could do was to put up the best METAL show we could afford in honor of our friend.
"See you in the afterlife, Vitek!"
Nergal, Behemoth
"If you follow the metal news you have learned that Vitek, the 23-year-old drummer of Poland's DECAPITATED passed away due to severe head injuries from a traffic accident involving their tour bus on the roads in Russia.
"As a fellow metal drummer I feel the need to express my deepest condolences to his fellow band members, family and fans all over the world. The Polish metal scene has lost another great drummer.
"Personally I am not a huge fan of DECAPITATED. I've listened to their current album and enjoyed it, but there was no doubt that Vitek was a talented drummer who had a promising future ahead of him.
"It's always sad when people die and even more so when they are so young. And that it happened during a tour is quite scary. Week after week, people that I know — and every now and then myself — is out on the roads, driving long distances during uncomfortable hours, and anything can happen. A couple of years ago, my friends in the local punk band THE ACCIDENTS rolled of the ferry from Sweden to Germany in the early hours and crashed their tour-bus on the autobahn just a few minutes later (yes, their band monicker is ironic).
"THE ACCIDENTS were lucky. No injuries or fractures, just a few bruises, a totally smashed tour bus and a cancelled tour. Vitek and his fellow bandmate Covan (vocals) weren't.
"Let's all hope that Covan will recover and can comeback to the metal scene together with the rest of DECAPITATED in a new band or under the same name.
"Again: my deepest condolences."
Anders Jakobson, Nasum
"RIP Vitek! Spent seven weeks on tour with DECAPITATED in 2002. Vitek was without no doubt the most down to earth guy from them. Really sad to see someone so talented & being a great person to be killed in a accident while being on tour. Hope to see Covan recovering out of his injuries. Our thoughts go out to their family and friends and fellow DECAPITATED members."
Prejudice
"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."
Wawrzyn Chylinski, Against The Plagues, ex-Damnation, ex-Forest Of Impaled
"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, Soilwork
"It's with sad regret I learned this morning of the tragic passing of [DECAPITATED drummer 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 Adrian 'Covan' to keep fighting to get better and come back to the stage soon."
Jean-Francois Dagenais, Kataklysm
"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 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
"I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Vitek and the rest of the DECAPITATED boys on a number of occasions. His drumming skills spoke volumes, he was an incredible talent and one can only guess as to what greatness was in store for him and his future endeavors, this is very saddening to hear and it must be exponentially worse in Poland since they really are the pride of their home country. My condolences go out to his band mates, his friends, loved ones, family and especially his brother Vogg."
- Raymond I. Herrera and FEAR FACTORY
"Vitek was an unreal drummer. Someone who I really respected. Even though we never met, from friends we both knew, we had a mutual respect for each other. The world has lost a musical genius. He will be sorely missed and my thoughts, condolences and feelings go out to his immediate family, bandmates and friends. I am happy to have him in my life, for I have been inspired. RIP bro."
Joey Jordison (Slipknot)
"Known from such bands as DECAPITATED, DIES IRAE, PANZER X... 23-year old, extremely talented drummer, our brother in metal and dear friend passed away... This is another huge loss for the metal scene and the saddest news we have heard this year... we are all in shock...
VADER members would like to express their deepest condolences to his family and frends. Vitek — R.I.P."
- Vader