Richard H Kirk of Cabaret Voltaire dies aged 65 – “spiky and intense… but also honest and engaging”

Mute Records confirmed death this afternoon

Richard H Kirk of hugely influential electronic experimentalists Cabaret Voltaire, has died at the age of 65, it has been reported.

A statement from Mute Records said: “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.”

Kirk was a founder member of the outfit who emerged from the post-punk industrial scene and went on to inspire countless electropop and synthpop acts.

Kirk also played a pivotal role in the development of Warp Records as half of Sweet Exorcist with Richard Barratt, creating the bleep techno anthem ‘Testone’.

In latter years, he became the sole member working under its banner, having also released solo albums under his own name and as Sandoz. In the past two years he released a number of EPs and his final albums Shadow Of Fear and Shadow Of Funk.

Juno Daily writer Matt Anniss, who interviewed Kirk several times, told us: ““I’m struggling to comprehend the news that Richard is no longer with us. In these circumstances it’s customary to talk about musicians as being ‘visionary’ and ‘unique’, and Richard H Kirk most certainly was. I was lucky to have met or spoken to him at different points over the last two decades for interviews and on each occasion it was an experience like no other.

“Like much of his music, Richard was forthright, spiky and intense when it came to dealing with journalists, but also honest and engaging. He turned up to one of our interviews carrying a couple of records, which he handed over with a warning: “most people don’t get to the end of these”. As soon as I got home, I put the records on. They were among the most challenging and experimental electronic records I’d ever heard. I did get to the end, though, and I kept hold of them. Tonight I’ll be playing them loud in his honour.”