🔗 Share this article Soft Cell's Creative Genius Dave Ball Passes Away, at the Age of 66 Dave Ball (on the left) formed 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. Together with singer Marc Almond, the team achieved a worldwide hit with their version of Gloria Jones' the classic track Tainted Love in the mid-80s, and their first record Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret is regarded as a classic of synth-pop. He subsequently founded the innovative techno group The Grid, who achieved chart success with 1994's the hit Swamp Thing. Ball died peacefully in his rest at his residence in London on October 22, only a short time after playing a featured performance with Soft Cell at the Rewind music event in the Thames-side town. Recent Health Challenges At that show, Ball performed in a wheelchair, as he had for the last two years, after a period of ill-health. "I ended up damage myself significantly," he commented in a recent interview. "I broke spinal bones in my back and cracked about five ribs and broke my arm." After contracting a lung infection and developing blood poisoning, he was put in an induced coma and remained in the hospital for half a year. However, he had been in "a great place mentally" over the warmer months, as he was developing a new album with Almond, called Danceteria, which is set for publication next year. "He was concentrated and very pleased with the latest project that we literally completed only a few days ago," stated the singer in a heartfelt message. "It's so sad as next year was completely planned to be such an uplifting year for him, and I take some solace from the knowledge that he heard the completed album and believed that it was a great piece of work." The duo were at the forefront of the synth-pop movement in the beginning of the decade Tributes Almond described his bandmate as "an exceptionally talented musical genius", stating: "He was the core essence 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 songs you gave me. I couldn't be where I am without you." Richard Norris from The Grid, also paid tribute, recalling Ball's "constant humor" and "unwavering friendship". "Being in a partnership with someone is different from joining a band, the connection is very tight," he added. "That was the case with us. We went through so many extraordinary, extraordinary, memorable moments together. Many thanks, Dave." Dave Ball, pictured at BBC Radio 2 in recent years Formative Years Born into a single-parent household in the city of Chester in the late 50s, Ball was put up for adoption when he was a year and a half of age. He grew up in the seaside town with adoptive parents Donald and Brenda Ball, who changed his given name from his birth name to his adopted name, together with his sibling his sister, who was similarly welcomed. He encountered Almond at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977, where they were both learning art. Inspired by a mutual passion of a music genre, they established Soft Cell the same year, and promptly produced an extended play. Musical Partnership The pair were an unusual pairing: Ball was the quiet musician, bent over his keyboard, while Almond was a charismatic performer, all glitter and makeup; but they achieved a rare creative synergy. Ball had cultivated a interest with synthesizers after viewing Kraftwerk perform on BBC science show a popular series, and started to marry moody electronic sounds to the soaring melodies Almond was writing. Their signature song became the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling song of the early 80s, shifting millions of copies worldwide. Together with successful tracks by other artists, Human League and Ultravox, it contributed to cleared the way for the synth-pop sound of the 80s. The track was also featured on their first album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, which produced two additional top five singles: Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. They continued the record up with the stand-alone single, Torch, which reached at number two in the following year. The duo were working on new material until just before Ball's death Professional Journey Fame had its upsides. "I loved being able to afford my first home, having financial security and exploring, which makes me sound like a beauty queen," Ball not long ago shared with a publication. But it also presented challenges. "Newfound wealth meant we could purchase newfound drugs to alleviate the boredom" of media interviews and television shows, Ball said. "I know that's a common saying, but it's a truism for a valid cause, because it applies for so many musicians." Amidst the hedonistic lifestyle, the duo were also drifting apart, but they managed to create a follow-up classic album - the unconventional, edgy and fittingly named The Art Of Falling Apart. They released another LP, 1984's This Last Night In Sodom, before ending the group to focus on other projects. Almond went on 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 mixed dance music with ambient pop over a enduring partnership. Reunions and Final Projects Soft Cell came back together in the early 2000s, releasing the charting album Cruelty Without Beauty. Following a further break, they returned in 2018, issuing the original singles Northern Lights and Guilty (Cos I Say You Are) before performing what was intended to be a farewell show at the O2 Arena on 30 September, that year. Yet, they remained active, creating their latest project, Happiness Not Included, during the pandemic Covid lockdown. Ball recently described the band's new album as a homage to the New York club scene they frequented while making their first two albums. He noted that his time in medical care had influenced the group's music. "I had strange recollections when I was in and out of the hospital because I was on morphine," he explained to a music magazine. "The new songs are a digital reflection of the noises in my mind from that time. "Simultaneously, it's about the experiences me and Marc got up to in the 1980s." The last versions were finished only a short time before Ball passed away. It is scheduled for launch in Spring 2026.