🔗 Share this article The Synth-Pop Duo's Musical Force Dave Ball Dies, at the Age of 66 Dave Ball (on the left) created Soft Cell alongside Marc Almond in Leeds during 1977 Dave Ball, one half of the pioneering 1980s synth-pop band Soft Cell, has passed away at the age of 66. Alongside singer Marc Almond, the team achieved a global success with their version of Gloria Jones' the classic track Tainted Love in the mid-80s, and their first record their initial full-length release is regarded as a classic of synth-pop. He later founded the pioneering techno group The Grid, who secured popular acclaim with their 1994 single the hit Swamp Thing. Ball died peacefully in his rest at his residence in London on Wednesday 22 October, only a short time after performing a featured performance with Soft Cell at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames. Health Struggles At that show, Ball performed in a mobility chair, as he had for the previous couple of years, following a spate of ill-health. "I managed to injure myself significantly," he stated in 2023. "I fractured lower vertebrae in my spine and fractured about five ribs and fractured my wrist." After contracting a lung infection and developing sepsis, he was placed in an induced coma and stayed in the hospital for seven months. Nevertheless, he had been in "high spirits emotionally" during the warmer months, as he was developing a fresh record with Almond, called the upcoming Danceteria, which is scheduled for publication next year. "He was concentrated and so happy with the latest project that we actually completed only a short time ago," stated the singer in a heartfelt message. "It's so sad as 2026 was all set to be such an positive time for him, and I take some solace from the knowledge that he heard the completed album and felt that it was a masterpiece." The duo were at the vanguard of the electronic music scene in the early 1980s Tributes Almond described his bandmate as "an exceptionally talented creative mastermind", stating: "He was the core essence of Soft Cell and I'm very proud of our legacy. "Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my existence and for the music you created with me. I wouldn't be where I am without you." Richard Norris from The Grid, also paid tribute, recalling Ball's "endless laughter" and "unwavering friendship". "Being in 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 experienced so many remarkable, incredible, life-affirming moments together. Thank you, Dave." Dave Ball, pictured at BBC Radio 2 in recent years Early Life Born into a one-parent family in Chester in the late 50s, Ball was given up for adoption when he was a year and a half old. He was raised in Blackpool with his new family his caregivers, who altered his first name from Paul to David, alongside his sibling his sister, who was also adopted. He met Almond at an art college in 1977, where they were both learning fine arts. Fuelled by a mutual passion of a music genre, they formed Soft Cell the very year, and quickly produced an extended play. Creative Collaboration The duo were an unusual pairing: Ball was the reserved technician, bent over his keyboard, while Almond was a flamboyant performer, all glitter and eye-liner; but they achieved a rare creative synergy. Ball had cultivated a interest with synthesizers after watching Kraftwerk appear on a television science show a popular series, and began to combine dark electronica to the catchy tunes Almond was writing. Tainted Love became the United Kingdom's second most popular song of 1981, shifting millions of units globally. Together with hits by Gary Numan, Human League and Ultravox, it contributed to paved the path for the synth-pop sound of the 80s. The track was also included on their full-length debut, their initial LP, which produced two further top five singles: Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. They continued the record up with the stand-alone single, Torch, which peaked at number two in the following year. The pair were developing new material until just before Ball's death Career Highlights Fame had its benefits. "I loved being able to afford my initial property, having financial security and exploring, which might seem like a beauty queen," Ball not long ago told with a publication. But it also presented challenges. "Newfound wealth meant we could afford substances to alleviate the monotony" of press appearances and television shows, Ball explained. "I realize that's a common saying, but it's a cliché 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 unconventional, tense and aptly-titled The Art Of Falling Apart. They put out one more LP, their 1984 release 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 dance music with ambient pop over a long-lasting partnership. Reunions and Final Projects Soft Cell came back together in the early 2000s, releasing the Top 40 record Cruelty Without Beauty. After another hiatus, they reappeared in recent years, 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. Yet, they remained together, recording their fifth album, Happiness Not Included, during the 2020 Covid lockdown. Ball lately described the duo's new album as a homage to the New York club scene they visited while recording their first two albums. He noted that his period in hospital had shaped the group's music. "I had unusual memories when I was in and out of hospital because I was on pain medication," he told a music magazine. "The new songs are a digital reflection of the noises in my mind from that time. "In parallel, it's about the times we got up to in the 1980s." The last versions were finished only a short time before Ball passed away. It is due for launch in the spring of 2026.