The death of Soft Cell's Dave Ball has been announced

Live4ever stock

Dave Ball was 66.

The death of Dave Ball – who enjoyed huge success in the eighties as one half of Soft Cell including one of that decade’s biggest hits with their synth cover of Tainted Love, and later found more acclaim during the acid house era with The Grid – has been announced by his family.

Ball, ‘passed away peacefully in his sleep at his London home on Wednesday 22nd October’, and a lengthy tribute has been left by his Soft Cell bandmate Marc Almond.

“It is hard to write this, let alone process it, as Dave was in such a great place emotionally,” Almond has said.

“He was focused and so happy with the new album that we literally completed only a few days ago. It’s so sad as 2026 was all set to be such an uplifting year for him, and I take some solace from the fact that he heard the finished record and felt that it was a great piece of work.”

“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 was a wonderfully brilliant musical genius and the pair of us have been on a journey together for almost 50 years.”

“In the early days we were obnoxious and difficult, two belligerent art students who wanted to do things our way, even if it was the wrong way. We were naive and made mistakes, although we never really saw them as such. It was all just a part of the adventure. Dave and I were always a bit chalk-and-cheese, but maybe that’s why the chemistry between us worked so well.”

“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.”