Dave Ball, the co-founder and synthesiser player of the iconic electro-pop duo Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66, according to faroutmagazine.co.uk.
Ball passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in London on October 22. His final live performance with Soft Cell was just two months prior, when the group headlined the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames in August.
Ball formed Soft Cell in 1979 with vocalist Marc Almond while they were both art students at Leeds Polytechnic. The pair shot to international fame two years later with their seminal synth-pop debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, which spawned the enduring hit “Tainted Love.”
The duo initially split in 1984 before reforming in 2000. Following a second hiatus, they announced what was intended to be their final show at London’s O2 Arena in 2018, but the collaboration proved too strong to stop, leading to a new chapter for the band.
Devastatingly, Ball’s passing comes only days after he and Almond completed work on their sixth studio album, “Danceteria,” which is scheduled for release next year.
In a poignant statement, Marc Almond paid tribute to his musical partner, describing his shock. “It is hard to write this, let alone process it, as Dave was in such a great place emotionally. He was focused and so happy with the new album that we literally completed only a few days ago.”
Almond praised his late bandmate’s talent: “Dave’s music is better than ever. His tunes and hooks are still unmistakably Soft Cell, yet he always took it to the next level too.”
He went on to hail Ball as “a wonderfully brilliant musical genius,” reflecting on their contrasting personalities. “We were chalk-and-cheese… Maybe that’s why the chemistry between us worked so well,” he shared. “There was a deep mutual respect that gave our combined songwriting its unique power… Dave was the heart and soul of Soft Cell and I’m very proud of our legacy.”
Almond confirmed that “Danceteria,” their newly finished record, will now serve as Soft Cell’s final album. He stated that the work “takes us back to New York City in the early 1980s where a good many of our musical ideas were formed,” noting it “will now stand as an album that brings everything full circle for us.”
The singer expressed deep sadness that Ball would not be there to celebrate an upcoming milestone: “I just wish that Dave could have stayed on long enough to celebrate our 50 years together in a couple of years’ time.”
Almond concluded his tribute powerfully: “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.”
Beyond Soft Cell, Ball was also a member of the electronic dance group The Grid, which he formed with Richard Norris in 1988. Norris also shared a heartfelt tribute.
“Being in a duo with someone is different from being in a band: the bond is very tight. That’s how it was with us,” Norris stated. “Thank you, Dave. Thanks for the good times, the endless laughter, your unwavering friendship. Most of all, thank you for the music.”
In a bittersweet note, a super deluxe edition of Soft Cell’s 1983 album, The Art Of Falling Apart, is still set to be released on 31st October.
Dave Ball is survived by his close family and four children, who have requested privacy at this time.
•Featured image: Courtesy of Soft Cell/Mike Owen
