One-half of the early 1980s new wave duo Soft Cell has died.
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Multi-instrumentalist David Ball was 66. He died in his sleep on Oct. 22 of unknown causes. However, he would stay in the hospital for extended periods of time for issues related to a fractured lower vertebrae, pneumonia, and sepsis.
Soft Cell was perhaps best known for its cover of the 1964 Gloria Jones hit "Tainted Love," which made its way into the Top 10 in 1982. Another version of the single also featured a cover of "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes.
Marc Almond Paid Tribute to His Soft Cell Bandmate
Ball's Soft Cell bandmate and creative partner, Marc Almond, paid tribute to his bandmate and creative partner in a statement.
"He will always be loved by the Soft Cell fans who love his music, and his music and memory will live on," he said. "At any given moment, someone somewhere in the world will be getting pleasure from a Soft Cell song. Thank you, Dave, for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me. I wouldn't be where I am without you."
Ball's story began in Lancashire, England, on May 3, 1959. He met Almond in school in the late 1970s. Together, they created Soft Cell.
Soon after, the duo made its impact on the world with its controversial debut, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. In addition to featuring "Tainted Love," the 1981 album included the single "Sex Dwarf." The song described an S&M club, and its accompanying video was banned because of its explicit images.
Soft Cell Was Planning a Comeback
After Soft Cell broke up in the mid-1980s, Ball founded The Grid, which went on to release more than a half-dozen albums over the years.
Soft Cell would reunite in 2018 and release a new album, Happiness Not Included, in 2022. The band was one of the openers for Simple Minds on its "Alive and Kicking" tour over the summer. At the time of Ball's death, he and Almond were working on a new album titled Danceteria.
