Cabaret Voltaire | |
---|---|
![]() Left to right: Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder, Chris Watson | |
Background information | |
Origin | Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England |
Genres | |
Years active |
|
Labels | |
Spinoffs |
|
Past members |
Cabaret Voltaire were an English music group formed in Sheffield in 1973 and initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk, and Chris Watson.[1] Named for the Zürich nightclub that fostered the early Dada movement, the band are often characterized as among the most innovative and influential electronic acts of their era.[2]
The band's early work consisted of experimentation with DIY electronics and tape recorders, as well as Dada-influenced performance art, helping to pioneer industrial music in the mid-1970s.[2] Finding an audience during the post-punk era, they integrated their experimental sensibilities with dance styles.[2][3] After Watson's 1981 departure, the group continued as a two-piece until disbanding in 1994. Kirk revived the name as a solo project from 2009 until his death in 2021.