Cabaret Voltaire at Octagon Centre, Sheffield, 25 October 2026

The group was initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson. Its name comes from the Zürich nightclub that fostered the early Dada movement. The early work involved experimentation with DIY electronics and tape recorders, along with Dada-influenced performance art, and helped pioneer industrial music in the mid-1970s.

In 1978 the band signed to Rough Trade Records. Watson left in 1981, and 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.