🔗 Share this article Soft Cell's Musical Force Dave Ball Dies, at the Age of 66 Dave Ball (on the left) established Soft Cell alongside Marc Almond at Leeds in 1977 The talented musician, a key member of the innovative 1980s synth-pop duo Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66. Alongside singer Marc Almond, the duo scored a global success with their cover of Gloria Jones' the classic track Tainted Love in 1984, and their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret is considered a classic of electronic music. He subsequently founded the innovative techno group The Grid, who achieved chart success with 1994's the hit Swamp Thing. Ball died calmly in his sleep at his residence in London on October 22, just weeks after playing a headline show with Soft Cell at the Rewind music event in Henley-on-Thames. Recent Health Challenges During that performance, Ball performed in a wheelchair, as he had for the previous couple of years, after a period of ill-health. "I managed to damage myself significantly," he stated in 2023. "I fractured lower vertebrae in my spine and cracked about multiple ribs and fractured my wrist." After catching pneumonia and suffering from blood poisoning, he was placed in an medically-induced sleep and stayed in the hospital for half a year. Nevertheless, he had been in "high spirits mentally" during the summer, as he worked on a new album with Almond, titled Danceteria, which is scheduled for release in the coming year. "He was concentrated and so happy with the latest project that we actually completed only a few days ago," said the vocalist in a tribute. "It's so sad as 2026 was completely planned to be such an uplifting year for him, and I find comfort from the knowledge that he heard the finished record and felt that it was a masterpiece." The duo were at the vanguard of the synth-pop movement in the beginning of the decade Heartfelt Messages Almond described his bandmate as "a wonderfully brilliant musical genius", adding: "He was the core essence of Soft Cell and I'm extremely pleased of our body of work. "Many thanks Dave for being an significant part of my life and for the music you gave me. I wouldn't be where I am without you." Richard Norris from The Grid, also paid tribute, recalling Ball's "endless laughter" and "steadfast support". "Forming a partnership with someone is different from being in a group, the connection is incredibly close," he continued. "That was the case with us. We went through so many remarkable, incredible, life-affirming experiences together. Thank you, Dave." Dave Ball, pictured at a radio station in 2018 Formative Years Born into a single-parent household in the city of Chester in 1959, Ball was given up for adoption when he was a year and a half of age. He was raised in the seaside town with adoptive parents his caregivers, who changed his first name from Paul to David, together with his younger sister his sister, who was similarly welcomed. He encountered Almond at an art college in the late 70s, where they were both studying art. Inspired by a shared love of a music genre, they formed Soft Cell the very year, and quickly recorded an extended play. Creative Collaboration The pair were an distinctive pairing: Ball was the quiet technician, hunched over his keyboard, while Almond was a flamboyant showman, all glitter and eye-liner; but they achieved a unique creative synergy. Ball had developed a interest with synthesizers after watching the band Kraftwerk appear on BBC science show a popular series, and began to combine moody electronic sounds to the catchy tunes Almond was composing. Tainted Love became the United Kingdom's second most popular song of 1981, selling 21 million units globally. Together with hits by Gary Numan, contemporary bands and electronic acts, it contributed to paved the way for the synth-pop sound of the 80s. The track was also included on their full-length debut, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, which spawned two additional high-charting singles: Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. They followed the album up with the stand-alone single, Torch, which peaked at number two in 1982. The pair were working on new material until just before Ball's death Professional Journey Success had its upsides. "I enjoyed being able to purchase my first home, having financial security and exploring, which makes me sound like a beauty queen," Ball not long ago told with a publication. But it also presented challenges. "Newfound wealth meant we could afford newfound drugs to alleviate the monotony" of media interviews and television shows, Ball said. "I know that's a common saying, but it's a truism for a good reason, because it works for so many bands." Amidst the hedonistic lifestyle, the pair were also drifting apart, but they managed to produce a second memorable record - the wayward, edgy and fittingly named The Art Of Falling Apart. They put out another album, 1984's This Last Night In Sodom, before ending the group to concentrate on other projects. Almond proceeded to have a successful solo career, featuring the top 10 hit Something's Got A Hold Of My Heart; while Ball formed The Grid, who combined acid house with ambient pop over a long-lasting partnership. Reunions and Final Projects Soft Cell came back together in the early 2000s, producing the Top 40 record Cruelty Without Beauty. Following another hiatus, they returned in 2018, releasing the original singles Northern Lights and Guilty (Cos I Say You Are) before staging what was supposed to be a final performance at the O2 Arena on 30 September, 2018. However, they stayed active, creating their fifth album, Happiness Not Included, during the pandemic restrictions. Ball lately described the band's upcoming release as a tribute to the New York club scene they frequented while recording their first two albums. He noted that his period in hospital had influenced the band's sound. "I experienced strange recollections when I was in and out of hospital because I was on morphine," he explained to a publication. "Our latest tracks are a electronic representation of the sounds in my head from that time. "In parallel, it's about the experiences me and Marc got up to in the 1980s." The last versions were completed only days before Ball passed away. It is scheduled for release in the spring of 2026.