Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (born 17 December 1981) is a Polish musician, best known as the guitarist of the death metal band Decapitated. In addition to Decapitated, Wacław has been the guitarist of Lux Occulta since 1998, as well as a former member of the Kraków group Sceptic. He also worked with the death metal band Vader.[3] He is a graduate of musical school in the first and second degree, and attended the Academy of Music in Kraków as an accordionist.

Wacław Kiełtyka
Kiełtyka in 2014
Born (1981-12-17) 17 December 1981 (age 42)
Krosno, Poland
Alma materAcademy of Music in Kraków
OccupationMusician
Children2 daughters[1]
RelativesWitold Kiełtyka (brother)
Wojciech Kiełtyka (brother)
Musical career
Also known asVogg
Genres
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1996–present
LabelsEarache, Nuclear Blast, Metal Mind, Mystic

Kiełtyka auditioned for second guitarist of Morbid Angel after the departure of Erik Rutan in 2006.[4] Before joining Vader in 2009, Kiełtyka was a music store salesman.[4] He also worked as a guitar technician for the band Hypocrisy.[4]

From September 2019 to November 2023, Kiełtyka played the lead guitar in Machine Head.[5][6]

Instruments

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Guitars
  • Ibanez LA Custom Shop Destroyer with EMGs[7]
  • Ibanez Iceman 7 String Custom (Blood Mantra, and live performances)[8][9][10]
  • Ibanez Iceman 6 String Custom[10]
  • Ibanez Apex 7 String[10]
  • Ibanez RGD 7 String[10]
  • Ran Thor Custom 6 String (live performances)[11]
  • Dean ML Custom Shop (Carnival Is Forever, and live performances)[12]
  • Gibson Shred V (Carnival Is Forever, and live performances)[13]
  • Washburn Custom Dime (live performances)[13]
  • Custom RAN guitars with EMG 81 (Winds of Creation, Nihility, The Negation, Organic Hallucinosis, and live performances)[14]
  • Ibanez Universe (Organic Hallucinosis)[14]
  • ESP 7-string Custom Shop Seth (Carnival Is Forever)[12]
  • OLP MM4 SSPG RP (live performances)
  • Washburn EA10N 6 (live performances)
  • ESP LTD SC-607 BK
Amplifiers, cabinets, and effects
  • EVH 5150 Amplifiers and Cabinets (Blood Mantra, and live performances)[15][9]
  • BOSS Pedals: NS-2, DD-3, TU-2 (live performances)[13]
  • Digitech Whammy Pedal (live performances)[13]
  • Laboga Mr. Hector Amplifier (live performances)[16][13]
  • Laboga Cabintes 4×12 V30 (live performances)[13]
  • Morley Bad Horsie II (live performances)[13]
  • Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Amplifier (Winds of Creation)[14]
  • Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier Amplifier (Nihility, The Negation)[14]
  • Crate Excalibur Amplifier (Nihility, Carnival Is Forever)[12][14]
  • Marshall Valvestate Amplifier (Nihility, Carnival Is Forever)[12][14]
  • Randall Warhead Amplifier (Organic Hallucinosis, and live performances)[14][17]
  • Bogner Ubershall Amplifier (Carnival Is Forever)[12]
  • Diezel Herbert Amplifier (Carnival Is Forever)[12]
  • VHT Pitbull Amplifier (Carnival Is Forever)[12]
  • Randall RH300 Amplifier (live performances)[16]
  • Engl Special Edition E670 Amplifier (live performances)[17]
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On 9 September 2017, all four members of Decapitated (Michal Łysejko, Kiełtyka, Rafał Piotrowski and Hubert Więcek) were arrested in Santa Ana, California after a show, and were charged with first-degree kidnapping in relation to an incident alleged to have happened after the band's show at Spokane, Washington's The Pin on 31 August 2017.[18] Prior to the arrest, the band members had offered to surrender to the police as soon as they had learned of an investigation, but never heard anything back.[19]

During the alleged incident, two women were held in the band's tour bus against their will.[20] Of the two women, one was able to escape. The other informed police that each member of the band raped her on the bus.[20]

After being extracted to Spokane, each band member was formally charged with rape in October 2017.[21] Piotrowski and Kiełtyka were both charged with second degree rape, while Łysejko and Więcek's charges were for third degree rape.[22] This was in contrast to earlier reports, which had depicted Piotrowski and Więcek as the primary aggressors.[23] Kiełtyka was represented by defense attorney Steve Graham.[22] All members of the band plead not guilty to their respective criminal charges.[24]

Later in October the band was released from jail, with each member paying $100,000 in bail and being required to surrender their passports.[25]

Charges were dropped by prosecutors in January 2018, citing the "well-being of the victim" and "in the interest of justice", and the scheduled trial later that month was cancelled.[24] The charges were dropped without prejudice, leaving the possibility of future charges open.[20] According to Piotrowski's attorney Jeffry Finer, the accuser was heavily involved in the decision to drop charges. The defence attorneys also highlighted testimonies from numerous concert attendees and musicians from other bands in support of the band's version of events.[26]

In March 2018, Kiełtyka wrote a lengthy statement on behalf of the band where he announced the band's return and addressed the band's hiatus from music resulting from the criminal charges. Decrying the accusations made against the band as false, he wrote, "Does sexual harassment happen and do crimes against women exist? Yes, and it is horrible. Do false accusations happen? Yes, this really happens. And it is also horrible. (...) We cannot and we will never accept someone else's narration about who we are. That is why we have chosen to return with the band. We know who we are and we can hold our heads and our music high with that knowledge."[27]

Discography

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References

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  1. ^ "Vogg From Decapitated Talks Blood Mantra And More!". Amps and Green Screens. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  2. ^ Łukasz Dunaj (10 July 2011). "WYWIAD: Reprezentujemy metal!". T-Mobile Music. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Vader Frontman Talks Lineup Changes - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Łukasz Dunaj (10 July 2011). "WYWIAD: Reprezentujemy metal!". T-Mobile Music. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  5. ^ Late Night Jam Session In A Hotel 🎸, retrieved 28 September 2019
  6. ^ Kieltika, Waclaw (17 February 2024). "I've been getting a lot of questions lately". Instagram. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Waclaw Vogg Kieltyka (@sirvogg): Weapons of mass destruction st instagram post download - ImgInn.com". imginn.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Ibanez guitars - Artist Focus". ibanez.co.jp. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  9. ^ a b "DECAPITATED – new message from the studio posted! -". decapitatedband.net. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d "Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (Decapitated)". MagazynGitarzysta.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Vogg's Ran Thor - Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Decapitated Premiere "Homo Sum," Interview with Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka". guitarworld.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Piotr "Peter" Paweł Wiwczarek & Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (Vader)". MagazynGitarzysta.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Detego AS. "ETERNAL TERROR". eternal-terror.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  15. ^ Fender® Musical Instruments. "EVH® Artists". evhgear.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  16. ^ a b "KRIMH - Decapitated Drum and Guitar Clinic - Arhus". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Decapitated - Interview with Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka - Part 2 of 2". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  18. ^ Kreps, Daniel (10 September 2017). "Polish Death Metal Band Decapitated Arrested on Kidnapping Charges". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Members of heavy metal band Decapitated arrested for suspected kidnapping in Spokane | The Spokesman-Review". spokesman.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "Polish Death Metal Band Decapitated Cleared of Rape & Kidnapping Charges". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Members of Polish metal band Decapitated formally charged with rape". The Independent. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Decapitated Members Released From Jail Ahead of Rape Trial". Revolver. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Polish metal band Decapitated accused of gang rape after being arrested on kidnapping charges". The Independent. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Polish metal band Decapitated cleared of rape and kidnapping charges". NME. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Bail set at $100K for 2 Polish band members in rape case". AP NEWS. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Spokane County drops rape charges against all members of Polish death metal band Decapitated". The Seattle Times. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Decapitated Break Their Silence About "the Most Terrible and Irrational Times in Our Lives" | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Gery.pl -- Polski Portal Tematyczny". gery.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  29. ^ "Virgin Snatch: 'Act Of Grace' To Receive Wider European Release - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  30. ^ Grupa Wirtualna Polska. "Anshur Za". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Crionics Completes Work On New Ep, Seeks New Label Home - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  32. ^ "wie: Acid Drinkers - pocztek roku szkolnego z "Fishdick Zwei" - rockmetal.pl". rockmetal.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  33. ^ ":: MetalSide :: Saratan - Antireligion :: Recenzja ::". metalside.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  34. ^ "Death Denied - Appetite for Booze - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". metal-archives.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  35. ^ "Muzyka". onet.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
Preceded by Machine Head lead guitarist
2019–present
Incumbent