🔗 Share this article Soft Cell's Musical Force Dave Ball Dies, at the Age of 66 Dave Ball (left) created Soft Cell alongside Marc Almond in Leeds during 1977 The talented musician, one half of the innovative 1980s electronic music duo Soft Cell, has passed away at the age of 66. Alongside vocalist Marc Almond, the duo scored a worldwide hit with their cover of Gloria Jones' Tainted Love in 1984, and their first record their initial full-length release is considered a classic of electronic music. He subsequently formed the innovative electronic act The Grid, who secured chart success with their 1994 single the hit Swamp Thing. Ball died peacefully in his rest at his home in London on October 22, just weeks after playing a headline show with Soft Cell at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames. Recent Health Challenges At that show, Ball appeared in a mobility chair, as he had for the last two years, following a spate of health issues. "I managed to injure myself quite a bit," he stated in a recent interview. "I fractured spinal bones in my back and fractured about multiple ribs and broke my arm." Following contracting pneumonia and developing blood poisoning, he was put in an induced coma and stayed in hospital for half a year. Nevertheless, he had been in "high spirits emotionally" over the summer, as he was developing a new album with Almond, titled the upcoming Danceteria, which is scheduled for release next year. "He was focused and so happy with the latest project that we literally completed only a few days ago," stated the singer in a heartfelt message. "It's truly heartbreaking as next year was all set to be such an positive time for him, and I find comfort from the knowledge that he listened to the finished record and believed that it was a great piece of work." The duo were at the vanguard of the synth-pop movement in the early 1980s Tributes Almond referred to his bandmate as "a wonderfully brilliant creative mastermind", adding: "He was the heart and soul of Soft Cell and I'm extremely pleased of our legacy. "Thank you Dave for being an significant aspect of my existence and for the music you gave me. I couldn't be where I am without your influence." Richard Norris from The Grid, shared his condolences, remembering Ball's "constant humor" and "steadfast support". "Being in a partnership with someone is different from joining a group, the bond is incredibly close," he continued. "That's how it was with us. We went through so many remarkable, extraordinary, life-affirming moments as a team. Thank you, Dave." Dave Ball, photographed at a radio station in recent years Early Life Brought into the world into a single-parent household in the city of Chester in 1959, Ball was put up for adoption when he was a year and a half of age. He was raised in Blackpool with adoptive parents his caregivers, who altered his first name from Paul to his adopted name, alongside his sibling his sister, who was similarly welcomed. He encountered Almond at Leeds Polytechnic in the late 70s, where they were both learning fine arts. Fuelled by a shared love of Northern Soul, they formed Soft Cell the very year, and promptly produced an EP. Musical Partnership The pair were an unusual combination: Ball was the quiet musician, hunched over his synthesizer, while Almond was a flamboyant performer, all sparkle and makeup; but they attained a rare musical alchemy. Ball had developed a fascination with electronic instruments after watching Kraftwerk appear on a television program Tomorrow's World, and began to combine dark electronica to the soaring melodies Almond was composing. Their signature song became the UK's second most popular single of the early 80s, selling millions of copies worldwide. Together with successful tracks by Gary Numan, contemporary bands and electronic acts, it contributed to paved the way for the synth-pop sound of the 80s. The song was also featured on their full-length debut, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, which spawned two additional top five singles: Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. They followed the album up with the separate release, Torch, which reached at number two in the following year. The duo were developing new material right up until Ball's passing Career Highlights Fame had its benefits. "I enjoyed being able to afford my initial property, having money and exploring, which might seem like a Miss World," Ball recently told with a music magazine. But it also caused problems. "Sudden riches allowed we could afford substances to relieve the monotony" of media interviews and TV performances, Ball explained. "I realize that's a cliché, but it's a truism for a valid cause, because it applies for so many musicians." During the party-filled existence, the duo were also growing distant, but they managed to produce a second classic album - the wayward, tense and fittingly named The Art Of Falling Apart. They released one more album, 1984's This Last Night In Sodom, before dissolving the band to concentrate on individual endeavors. Almond went on to have a successful individual path, including the top 10 hit Something's Got A Hold Of My Heart; while Ball created The Grid, who mixed acid house with ambient pop over a long-lasting partnership. Reunions and Final Projects Soft Cell came back together in 2001, releasing the charting album Cruelty Without Beauty. Following another break, they returned in 2018, releasing the new tracks Northern Lights and Guilty (Cos I Say You Are) before performing what was intended to be a farewell show at the O2 Arena on September 30, that year. Yet, they stayed active, recording their latest project, Happiness Not Included, during the 2020 restrictions. Ball lately characterized the band's new album as a homage to the New York club scene they visited while recording their initial records. He noted that his time in hospital had influenced the group's music. "I had unusual memories when I was in and out of hospital because I was on pain medication," he explained to a music magazine. "Our latest tracks are a digital reflection of the noises in my head from those days. "In parallel, it's about the experiences we had in the 1980s." The last versions were finished only days before Ball passed away. It is due for release in Spring 2026.