🔗 Share this article Soft Cell's Musical Force Dave Ball Dies, at the Age of 66 Dave Ball (left) established Soft Cell alongside Marc Almond at Leeds during 1977 The talented musician, a key member of the pioneering 1980s electronic music band Soft Cell, has passed away at the age of 66. Together with singer Marc Almond, the pair scored a worldwide hit with their cover of Gloria Jones' the classic track Tainted Love in 1984, and their first record their initial full-length release is considered a classic of electronic music. He subsequently founded the pioneering techno group The Grid, who secured popular acclaim with their 1994 single Swamp Thing. Ball passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in London on October 22, only a short time after performing a headline show with Soft Cell at the Rewind music event in the Thames-side town. Health Struggles At that show, Ball appeared in a mobility chair, as he had for the previous couple of years, following a spate of health issues. "I ended up damage myself significantly," he stated in a recent interview. "I fractured lower vertebrae in my spine and cracked about multiple ribs and fractured my arm." After catching a lung infection and developing blood poisoning, he was put in an induced coma and stayed in the hospital for seven months. However, he had been in "a great place emotionally" over the warmer months, as he worked on a new album with Almond, called Danceteria, which is set for release in the coming year. "He was concentrated and so happy with the latest project that we actually completed only a short time ago," stated the vocalist 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 fact that he listened to the finished record and believed that it was a great piece of work." The band were at the vanguard of the electronic music scene in the beginning of the decade Tributes 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 legacy. "Thank you Dave for being an significant part of my life and for the songs you created with me. I wouldn't be where I am without your influence." His Grid bandmate from The Grid, shared his condolences, remembering Ball's "constant humor" and "unwavering friendship". "Forming a duo with someone is distinct from joining a band, the bond is incredibly close," he added. "That's how it was with us. We went through so many extraordinary, incredible, memorable moments as a team. Thank you, Dave." Dave Ball, pictured at BBC Radio 2 in 2018 Early Life Born into a single-parent household in Chester in 1959, Ball was given up for adoption when he was 18 months old. He was raised in Blackpool with his new family his caregivers, who changed his given name from his birth name to David, together with his sibling Susan, who was also adopted. He met Almond at an art college in 1977, where they were both learning art. Inspired by a mutual passion of Northern Soul, they formed Soft Cell the same year, and promptly produced an extended play. Musical Partnership The duo were an distinctive combination: Ball was the reserved technician, bent over his keyboard, while Almond was a charismatic showman, all sparkle and eye-liner; but they attained a rare creative synergy. Ball had developed a interest with synthesizers after watching Kraftwerk appear on BBC science show Tomorrow's World, and started to combine moody electronic sounds to the soaring melodies Almond was writing. Tainted Love became the UK's second most popular single of the early 80s, selling millions of copies globally. Together with successful tracks by Gary Numan, Human League and electronic acts, it helped cleared the path for the synth-pop sound of the 1980s. The song was also featured on their first album, their initial LP, which spawned two additional high-charting singles: Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. They continued the record up with the separate release, Torch, which peaked at the second position in 1982. The pair were developing fresh songs right up until Ball's death Professional Journey Success had its upsides. "I loved being able to purchase my first home, having money and exploring, which might seem like a beauty queen," Ball recently shared with a music magazine. But it also presented problems. "Sudden riches allowed we could purchase newfound drugs to relieve the boredom" of media interviews and TV performances, Ball said. "I realize that's a common saying, but it's a truism for a valid cause, because it works for so many bands." During the party-filled existence, the duo were also growing distant, but they managed to create a follow-up memorable record - the wayward, tense and fittingly named The Art Of Falling Apart. They put out another album, their 1984 release This Last Night In Sodom, before ending the group to concentrate on other projects. Almond proceeded to have a successful individual path, including the chart-topping single Something's Got A Hold Of My Heart; while Ball created The Grid, who mixed acid house with ambient pop over a enduring partnership. Later Work and Comebacks Soft Cell came back together in 2001, producing the Top 40 album Cruelty Without Beauty. After another break, they returned in recent years, issuing the new tracks Northern Lights and Guilty (Cos I Say You Are) before staging what was intended to be a farewell show at the large venue on 30 September, 2018. Yet, they stayed together, creating their latest project, Happiness Not Included, during the 2020 restrictions. Ball lately described the duo's new album as a tribute to the NYC nightlife they visited while recording their first two albums. He added that his period 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 pain medication," he explained to a publication. "The new songs are a digital reflection of the noises in my head from those days. "Simultaneously, it's about the experiences we had in the 80s." The last versions were completed only days before Ball passed away. It is due for launch in the spring of 2026.