One of three founder members of Cabaret Voltaire. For me they did all their best work on their first few LPs, when Chris Watson was still a member, but I know many people like their later, more danceable, stuff.
I saw them in both 1981 and 1982 when the original lineup were together. Loud and visceral music experience, with the added joy of a slowly rotating back projection to unsettle even more. Excellent.
That is very sad news. I have the usual vinyl (Red Mecca, 2x45 etc) plus saw them pretty early on (Plato’s Ballroom Liverpool in 81 I think). I have a couple of Richard H Kirk’s later Warp albums too. Far too young. RIP.
Very sad news. Though rarely talked about nowadays, Cabaret Voltaire were one of the most influential bands of the late 70s/80s. I first came to them through their 1980 album, Red Mecca. They were big favourites of the NME, which I read avidly. I was lucky enough to see them play twice, in 1983 touring The Crackdown - one of their best albums - and three years later just after they'd released The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord. Some of their best moments, I would argue, are to be found on 12" singles, especially Sensoria (1985), one of the greatest songs and music videos of all time. Cabaret voltaire- sensoria ( long version) - YouTube
That is very sad news. I have the usual vinyl (Red Mecca, 2x45 etc) plus saw them pretty early on (Plato’s Ballroom Liverpool in 81 I think). I have a couple of Richard H Kirk’s later Warp albums too. Far too young. RIP.
In the late seventies I amassed a great collection through Rough Trade mail order to Northern Ireland, all lost now. For the life of me I can’t remember how that happened or even how I sent the orders. The single* most influential record on all my listening since then in my admittedly hazy memory is of the b side of Nag Nag Nag single. I still marvel occasionally at the greatness of Red Mecca. RIP to a true great.
There is rarely a week goes by that I am not blaring Cabaret Voltaire or more often Sandoz & RHK. Sadly missed. I had bought most of his output on vinyl during the 90's....now sadly lost in many moves or sales!
Very sad & no age at all. I got to know Richard (& Stephen & Chris to a lesser extent) from the start as I was a DJ & small time promoter in Sheffield at the time. I had never heard music like that, it was a breath of fresh air & pretty revolutionary really. I was invited in to their studio & to their gigs many times & I treasure those memories, & their records.
R.I.P. Richard.
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