Cabaret Voltaire‘s Richard H. Kirk has died.
The post-punk outfit’s sole remaining member’s death was announced by his record label Mute this afternoon (September 21). He was 65.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm our great and dear friend, Richard H. Kirk has passed away,” a statement from the label said. “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.”
A cause of death has not yet been announced.
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. pic.twitter.com/Ok8u3dNx3T— Mute (@MuteUK) September 21, 2021
Broadcaster Dave Haslem, was one of the first to pay tribute to Kirk, describing him as a “creative genius indeed and a truly top fella. RIP.”
Former NME writer and Goldblade member John Robb also paid his respects.
“Really sad news. Richard H Kirk (Cabaret Voltaire) RIP. Musical and cultural game-changer,” he wrote.
Richard H Kirk has died. A creative genius indeed and a truly top fella. RIP. https://t.co/c71G470sqc
— Dave Haslam (@Mr_Dave_Haslam) September 21, 2021
Really sad news. Richard H Kirk (Cabaret Voltaire) RIP
Musical and cultural game-changer. https://t.co/4uC0BQkATd— john robb (@johnrobb77) September 21, 2021
Originally active between 1973-1994 – Cabaret Voltaire featured Chris Watson until 1981 and Stephen Mallinder until 1994.
The group were inactive for 20 years until Kirk as the sole remaining member, returned for a 2014 performance at Berlin’s Atonal festival.
A new album, ‘Shadow Of Fear’, their first in 26 years was also released in 2020.
Speaking about the record at the time Kirk said in reference to the coronavirus crisis: “The album was finished just as all the weirdness was starting to kick in,” adding that “’Shadow Of Fear’ feels like a strangely appropriate title” for these trying times.
He continued: “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.”
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