David Ball, of ‘Tainted Love’ Hitmakers Soft Cell, Dies at 66

Dave Ball, the creative force responsible for the groundbreaking synth-pop sound of Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66. The BBC confirmed he passed away in his sleep this past Wednesday at his London home. While the precise cause was not made public, his health had been in decline due to complications from a back injury. His death followed a recent performance with the band at England's Rewind Festival by only a few weeks.

Although frontman Marc Almond was the public face of the duo, Ball—frequently positioned on the left in early band photos—crafted nearly all of their music. At a time when electronic instruments were still a novelty, Soft Cell's heavily synthesized style positioned them as true innovators. Their seminal 1981 album, "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret," featured not just the worldwide hit "Tainted Love" but also lasting classics like "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" and "Bedsitter." As one music historian noted, "Soft Cell’s stark electronic arrangements, amplified by the growing reach of MTV, helped shape a new wave aesthetic that defined the 1980s."

The group's swift rise to fame was powered by their reworking of Gloria Jones's Northern Soul track "Tainted Love." The extended single, released in July 1981, cleverly wove in a medley with The Supremes' Motown classic "Where Did Our Love Go?" This inventive pairing became an anthem of the period, selling an estimated 21 million copies globally and cementing its place as a perennial dance floor staple. Despite scoring other UK hits in the early '80s, the duo's mainstream success proved fleeting, and they parted ways in 1984.

Ball, who grew up in the seaside resort of Blackpool, first developed a passion for synthesizers after seeing the pioneering German group Kraftwerk on television. He and Almond met as art students at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977 and formed Soft Cell that same year. Their early EP caught the ear of the indie label Some Bizarre, which later partnered with the major Phonogram. A subsequent single, "Memorabilia," built a strong following in new wave clubs, setting the stage for their commercial breakthrough.

Following the dissolution of Soft Cell, Ball co-founded the electronic act The Grid before reuniting with Almond for a 2001 album and again in 2018. In recent years, Ball performed from a wheelchair because of his back condition, though he had largely recovered his mobility. The pair had just completed a new album, *Happiness Not Included*, whose title references Danceteria—a legendary 1980s New York nightclub that was a creative epicenter for new wave and post-punk acts. In a moving tribute, Almond wrote, "He was focused and so happy with the new album… It’s so sad as 2026 was all set to be such an uplifting year for him." Reflecting on their long collaboration, Almond added, "He was the heart and soul of Soft Cell… I wouldn’t be where I am without you."