Richard H. Kirk

CABARET VOLTAIRE – Electro Pioneers Share Stellar Live Album ‘BUT WHAT TIME IS IT REALLY?’ Ahead Of Final Tour

Posted on by JL

25 April 2026

British electro-industrial pioneers CABARET VOLTAIRE
made instant furore when they started their journey,
in pre-punk days, back in 1973.

CV was a trio featuring Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder, and Chris Watson.


Early days

In 1984, they all went their own way. Then, in 2009, Richard H. Kirk revitalized the band on his own until his passing in 2021, aged 65. This looked like the ultimate end for Cabaret Voltaire.

But last year, Watson and Mallinder returned together for a final UK tour to celebrate
the CV’s 50th birthday. It was a huge sold-out success, so they decided to extend the final tour this year. Between May and October, they will perform in the US (first shows in over 30 years), Europe, and the UK.

All Tour Dates HERE.


UK -2025

Ahead of it, CV dropped a new 16-track live album today.
It’s titled BUT WHAT TIME IS IT REALLY?, featuring a sort
of ‘best of‘ tracklist.

CD and vinyl can be ordered via the band’s website, right here.
Digitally, it’s available, below, via Bandcamp.

Chris Watson: “This record captures the powerful essence of contemporary live
performance and establishes a visceral connection to the history of the band.”

Stephen Mallinder: “It was an opportunity to capture the shows as a unique moment
in time but also give people the opportunity to have a memento. Something that presented sounds and music, with respect to Richard’s memory, that also transcended time.”

‘But What Time Is It Really?’ is not a let’s-cash-in record whatsoever.
The sound is top, the vibes are top, the execution is top, the tracklist
is top.

It is really time now to press play.


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Instagram – All Albums

Gone But Not Forgotten – British Electro Pioneers CABARET VOLTAIRE

Posted on by JL

Great bands from the past

25 August 2023


On the cover of legendary British music weekly Sounds – 1984

CABARET VOLTAIRE (1973–1994, 2009–2021) were British pioneers
in all things techno/electro/dance/dark-post-punk-wave/acid-house.
They started as a trio with Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk, and
Chris Watson.

The latter already left in 1981 and Stephen Mallinder went his
own way in 1995. Fourteen years later, in 2009, Kirk revitalized
CV until his sudden death 2 years ago,
aged only 65.

Cabaret Voltaire released 14 LPs, and individually or collaborating
with other artists, all three musicians also recorded multiple albums.

1-2-3 great CV moments.

– NAG NAG NAG –
1979 single

– YASHAR –
From 1982 LP 2X45

– SENSORIA –
From 1984 LP Micro-Phonies

SHADOW OF FEAR

The formidable final album – 2020


.
CV: Bio – Discography

R.I.P. RICHARD H KIRK – Sole Original CABARET VOLTAIRE Musician Passed Away At 65

Posted on by JL

21 September 2021

RICHARD H. KIRK has passed away, he was only 65.

He was one of the 3 original musicians that formed the influential electro-industrial-post-punk-noise band CABARET VOLTAIRE from Sheffield, UK. They were active from 1973–1994 and from 2009 on it was Kirk alone who revitalised CB and released the excellent 2020 comeback LP Shadow Of Fear. Turn Up The Volume made it Album Of The Day
last November when the record came out.

It was his record label Mute Records that broke the news: “It is with great sadness that we confirm our great & dear friend, Richard H. Kirk has passed away. Richard was a towering creative genius who led a singular & driven path throughout his life & musical career. We will miss him so much. We ask that his family are given space.”

No cause of death was revealed.

In memory of a fabulous, adventurous and
visionary musician here’s the final Cabaret Voltaire LP
Shadow Of Fear…


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CABARET VOLTAIRE: History – Discography

(image on top: cover of his 2014 titled Never Lose Your Shadow)