Krzysztof Raczkowski (29 October 1970 – 18 August 2005), also known as Docent or Doc, was a Polish drummer, best known as a member of Polish

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

bands Vader (1988–2005) and Dies Irae. He also appeared as a guest or temporary musician in

Sweet Noise Sweet Noise is a Polish alternative metal band. The group was formed in 1990 in Swarzędz. They have released eight CDs (included two international versions) and appeared three times at the Przystanek Woodstock festival with the special show in 2 ...

Hunter Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

, Slashing Death, Unborn, Moon, and Overdub Trio.

Final years

In the last few years of his life, Raczkowski had been suffering serious

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

problems. Originally, drum sessions for Vader's album, '' The Beast'' took place at Hertz Studio in

Białystok Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is the tenth-largest city in Poland, second in terms of population density, and thirteenth in area. Białystok is located in the Białystok Up ...

in February 2004, however, Raczkowski fell down a flight of stairs, causing arm and leg injuries. Because of the accident, the studio sessions was postponed. Ultimately, the band decided to hire

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drummer Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski as a session musician. Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek talked about the accident while working on the album, saying: In March 2005, Krzysztof Raczkowski officially left Vader. Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's lead singer, said in an official statement on their website: :Doc pretty hard tried to 'fight' against his weaknesses, which were troubles for all of us. Finally he had not prevailed over that battle... All in all, he attempted... Vader today is not just a friendship anymore — it's our life with armies of man involved in music, releases and, first of all, fans waiting for shows or new albums... This is a high responsibility, not too many know about. If a person, even the most talented one, cannot stand it — ehas to leave... That was Doc's decision as well.

Maurycy Stefanowicz Maurycy Stefanowicz (born 1976), is a Polish musician and guitarist. Stefanowicz has played with such bands as Vader, Dies Irae, Christ Agony, UnSun. He is sponsored by Washburn Guitars Washburn Guitars is an American brand and importer of ...

, the guitarist of the band, mentioned Krzysztof's problem with alcohol in an interview in April 2005. Doc's alcohol problems eventually caused him to die unexpectedly from

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, a ...

in August 2005. He was 34 years old. His grave is located in

Korsze Korsze (, ) is a town in Kętrzyn County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,724 inhabitants (2004). It is a railroad junction, located along the major Olsztyn - Skandawa line and Ełk-Bartoszyce line. Krzysztof Raczkowski, the former ...

, Poland.

Drums setup

Discography

Vader

Other

* Slashing Death - ''Live at Thrash Camp'' (1988, demo) * Slashing Death - ''Irrevocably & With No Hope'' (1989, demo) * Slashing Death - ''Kill Me 'Coz I Can't Stop'' (1990, demo) *

- ''Getto'' (1996, as guest) * Moon - ''Daemon's Heart'' (1997) * Black Altar - ''Na uroczysku'' (1998, drums programming) * Christ Agony - ''Elysium'' (1999) * Tower - ''Mercury'' (1999, as producer) * Dies Irae - ''

Immolated ''Immolated'' is the first album by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2000 by Metal Blade Records. A video was filmed for the track "Lion Of Knowledge". Track listing Credits * Marcin "Novy" Nowak - bass, vocals * Maurycy " ...

'' (2000) * Dies Irae - ''

The Sin War ''The Sin War'' is the second album on a major record label by the Polish death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as pa ...

'' (2002) * Sweet Noise - ''Revolta'' (2003, guest) * Dies Irae - '' Sculpture of Stone'' (2004) * Sweet Noise - ''The Triptic'' (2007, as member) * Atrocious Filth - ''Atrocious Filth'' (2008)

Videography

*Vader - ''Vision and Voice'' (1998, VHS) *Vader - ''More Vision and the Voice'' (2002, DVD) *Vader - ''Night of the Apocalypse'' (2005, DVD) *Dies Irae - ''The Art of an Endless Creation'' (2009, DVD)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raczkowski, Krzysztof 1970 births 2005 deaths Polish heavy metal drummers Male drummers Vader (band) members Drug-related deaths in Poland People from Kętrzyn 20th-century male musicians