Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Home
  • Bands
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
285K Likes
13K Followers
221K Followers
Subscribe
Post-Punk.com
Post-Punk.com Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Bands
  • Classic Bands
  • Classic Bands
  • Obituary

Cabaret Voltaire’s Richard H. Kirk has Passed Away

  • September 21, 2021
  • Alice Teeple
372
0
0
Image

His head is not his memory.
Visions coming, one, two, three.
Trickle up, trickle down.
Wearily, we come unwound.

Richard H. Kirk, founding member of industrial icons Cabaret Voltaire and “contemporary techno’s busiest man,” has died at age 65.

His label, Mute Records, wrote in a statement:

It is with great sadness that we confirm our great and dear friend, Richard H Kirk has passed away. Richard was a towering creative genius who led a singular and driven path throughout his life and musical career. We will miss him so much. We ask that his family are given space at this time.

His former bandmate from Cabaret Voltaire, Stephen Mallinder made the following statement in response to Kirk’s passing:

“We were friends from the age of 14. He could be difficult but I loved him, he was a brother to me RIP Kirky”

New Order paid tribute to Kirk by noting that Cabaret Voltaire helped the former members of Joy Division “enormously” after singer Ian Curtis passed away.

“Richard and all of Cabaret Voltaire were good friends and very influential electronic musicians that made a big impact on the music of Joy Division and many other bands. They helped us enormously after Ian passed away when we collaborated with them for the first time in a studio without Ian. Richard will be sorely missed, he left his mark in music innovation and experimentation.”

Born and raised in Sheffield, Kirk’s star first rose in 1973 after forming Cabaret Voltaire, named after the Zürich nightclub that served as a hub for the Dada movement. Kirk’s background drew him to communist politics, Dadaism, and Roxy Music; he quickly became a devotee of Brian Eno’s unorthodox musical approaches. The band, in turn, took the relay baton from earlier Dadaists and incorporated their influence in their performance art, as well as Kirk’s wild experiments with electronics and tape machines. The group also explored sound collage with dramatic lyrics inspired by the cut-up techniques of William S. Burroughs. Their sensibilities, although similarly rooted in the chaotic energies of punk, circumvented other bands’ amateurish throwbacks and rocketed straight into the realm of electronica, using the hertz tone in place of smokin’ guitar licks and simple bass lines.

As the post-punk era dawned, Cabaret Voltaire moved their sonic experiments into a more commercial realm of dance and pop, innovating unusual hybrids with metallic flavour and occasionally a taste of the ultraviolence. Cabaret Voltaire’s performances, usually kamikaze guerrilla spectacles, often ended in fights between the group and the audience…which makes the cameo appearance of a Cabaret Voltaire poster in the classic John Hughes film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, all the more wryly funny.

With other like-minded outfits incorporating working-class backgrounds with art, theatricality, cacophonous sound and poetry, such as Human League, Throbbing Gristle, Fad Gadget, and The Normal, Cabaret Voltaire stood tall at the forefront of the UK Electronic Movement.

Kirk was also a prolific solo artist on the side, releasing Disposable Half-Truths in 1980. Cabaret Voltaire dissolved in 1994, reforming twenty years later with Kirk as the sole remaining member, continuing to perform and create new music exploring many types of EDM under comically expansive noms de plume.

In 2020, Cabaret Voltaire (Kirk acting solo at this point) released Shadow Of Fear, their first album in 26 years. Kirk reflected upon the ominous title: “The album was finished just as all the weirdness was starting to kick in…The current situation didn’t have much of an influence on what I was doing – all the vocal content was already in place before the panic set in – but maybe due to my nature of being a bit paranoid there are hints in there about stuff going a bit weird and capturing the current state of affairs.”

Two more Cabaret Voltaire albums, Dekadrone and BN9Drone, came out earlier this year. Ever the innovator of new sound, Kirk was unapologetic in his distaste for nostalgia and retreading old waters. “It’s nice that people appreciate what you’ve done in the past,” says Kirk. “But it’s a dangerous place to dwell.”

No word yet on his cause of death, but Kirk’s departure from this mortal coil will leave an immense void in the electronic world. May his legacy thrive ever onward and continue to inspire new musicians.






Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via:

  • Patreon:

  • or directly via Paypal:

  • Or by using our new Contact form here:

 

Total
372
Shares
Share 372
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • Cabaret Voltaire
  • Richard H. Kirk
Alice Teeple

Alice Teeple is a photographer, multidisciplinary artist, and writer. She is not in Tin Machine.

Previous Article
  • Video Premiere

LUNACY Confronts the Past With the New Single “Dust”

  • September 21, 2021
  • Andi Harriman
View Post
Next Article
  • Bands
  • Covers

Mia Dean & Steve Lake of Zounds Release Cover of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon

  • September 21, 2021
  • Alice Teeple
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Bands
  • Song Premiere

Dreamy Darkwave Outfit JOHNSTONSONS Conjure Spirited Catharsis in Their Video for “I Cry”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 6, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Classic Bands
  • Concerts
  • Tour Dates
  • Tourdates

Goth’s Dominion — The Sisters Of Mercy King’s Theatre Show Reflects Undead NYC Scene

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 6, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Video Premiere

London Post-Punk Outfit Nothingheads Serenade the Stink in their Video for “Beam Engine”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 2, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Song Premiere

LA-Based Outfit SWIMM Debut Groove-laden New Single “Used To Saying Yes”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 1, 2023
View Post
  • Bands

Fotocrime Conjure Brooding Darkwave Amidst Industrial Decay in Their Video for “Accelerated”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 1, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Video Premiere

Lithuanian Cold Wave Artist Egzotikka Debuts Video for “Veidas”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 1, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Video Premiere

A Parent Thwarts Musical Aspirations in The Soft Moon’s Claymation Video for “Stupid Child”

  • Alice Teeple
  • May 30, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Video Premiere

Darkwave Duo Hallows Drown Their Sorrows in Their Video for “Talk To Me”

  • Alice Teeple
  • May 30, 2023







Post-Punk.com
© Copyright POST-PUNK.COM 2022
Dreamy Darkwave Outfit JOHNSTONSONS Conjure Spirited Catharsis in Their Video for “I Cry” 88 1
Drab Majesty Return with Their Video for “Vanity” Featuring Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell 652 7
On this day in 1981, The Psychedelic Furs released their second studio album, "Talk, Talk, Talk." which features the singles "Dumb Waiters", and "Pretty in Pink" 1K 1
45 years ago today, The Cars released their self-titled debut album. 2K 18
On this day in 1981, Siouxsie and the Banshees released "Juju." 5K 80
Goth’s Dominion — The Sisters Of Mercy King’s Theatre Show Reflects Undead NYC Scene 1K 12

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via...
  • Patreon:
  • Directly via Paypal:
  • Or by using our new Contact form here:
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT