The Pearl

Cabaret Voltaire are an English music group formed in Sheffield in 1973. The original lineup included Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk, and Chris Watson. The band was named after the Zürich nightclub associated with the early Dada movement. Their early work involved experimentation with DIY electronics, tape recorders, and Dada-influenced performance art, contributing to the development of industrial music in the mid-1970s. They gained an audience during the post-punk era and gradually incorporated elements of synthpop, techno, house, and funk. Watson left the group in 1981, after which it continued as a two-piece until disbanding in 1994. Richard H. Kirk revived the name as a solo project in 2009, a status he maintained until his death in 2021. In 2025, Watson and Mallinder announced a 50th anniversary performance scheduled for 25 October at the Sensoria Festival in Sheffield.