Jiří Valenta, Longtime Keyboardist for Czech Rock Band Olympic, Dies

Prague, Czech Republic – Jiří Valenta, a keyboardist and vocalist for the iconic Czech rock band Olympic, has died, the band announced on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Valenta was a member of Olympic from 1986 to 2020.

A Key Figure in Olympic’s History

Valenta joined Olympic in 1986, replacing Miroslav Berka. He contributed to twelve of the band’s albums during his tenure, performing in hundreds of concerts both domestically and internationally. According to Olympic, Valenta’s departure in March 2020 was due to health reasons. He had previously played with the bands Capitol, Kentaur, Karamel, and briefly Framus 5.

Valenta’s Reflections on His Time with Olympic

Reflecting on his time with the band, Valenta stated, “Olympic gave me a great experience as a musician, I got to know a piece of the world with him and had wonderful moments with the boys. He took a piece of my life and some youthful ideals, but he definitely gave me much more than he took,” as reported by Wikipedia.

Olympic’s Legacy

Founded in 1962 in Prague, Olympic is a cornerstone of Czech rock music. Led by Petr Janda since 1963, the band has featured numerous prominent musicians throughout its history, including František Ringo Čech, Jiří Korn, and Pavel Bobek. As of 2025, Olympic has released 24 studio albums, 5 English-language albums, and numerous live recordings and compilations.

Succession and Current Lineup

Following Valenta’s departure, Pavel Březina joined Olympic as the new keyboardist. The current lineup of Olympic includes Petr Janda (guitars, vocals), Milan Broum (bass, vocals), Martin Vajgl (drums, vocals), and Pavel Březina (keyboards, vocals). Encyclopaedia Metallum provides a detailed list of past and present members.