Soft Cell’s David Ball, synth-pop hitmaker behind ‘Tainted Love,’ dies at 66

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David Ball, best known as a member of the synth-pop duo Soft Cell, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 66. He was a key figure behind their 1981 hit, “Tainted Love,” which topped the charts in the U.K.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Soft Cell producer Mick Ball, as announced on the band’s website. While they didn’t share details about the cause, it seems he died peacefully at home in London. Marc Almond, the singer from Soft Cell, shared on Facebook that Ball had been dealing with health issues for some time now, a slow decline brought on by an illness they haven’t publicly specified. It’s a real loss for the music community.

It’s incredibly difficult to talk about this, and even harder to accept, because Dave was doing so well emotionally,” Marc Almond shared on Soft Cell’s website. “He was really focused and happy with the new album, which we actually finished just a few days ago. It’s heartbreaking because he was looking forward to a really positive 2026. I’m somewhat comforted knowing he heard the completed album and loved it.”

Marc Almond and David Ball, known as Soft Cell, played at the Rewind Festival in England last month. Their new album, currently finished, is called “Danceteria,” named after the famous New York City nightclub that helped launch the new wave and synth-pop music scenes in the early 1980s.

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According to Marc Almond, Soft Cell was an experimental electronic band that created unusual but catchy pop songs often focused on consumerism. In 2017, he told The Guardian that the band decided to cover “Tainted Love,” a song originally released in 1964 by soul singer Gloria Jones, though it hadn’t been successful at the time.

According to the Guardian, Ball created his version of the song using both his older, somewhat unreliable Korg synthesizers and a very expensive Synclavier – costing over £100,000. He described Soft Cell’s cover as feeling “twisted and strange,” a quality he felt fit the duo’s image as an unlikely pair: Marc, who wore makeup and openly identified as gay, and himself, a larger man who resembled a bodyguard.

Soft Cell’s version of “Tainted Love,” featuring Almond’s breathy vocals and Ball’s intriguing, slightly dark production, reached number one in the UK in the same year as hits like The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Adam & the Ants’ “Prince Charming.” In the United States, it climbed to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1982.

The song has become incredibly popular, racking up over a billion streams on Spotify. Its continued success is thanks in part to Rihanna, who famously sampled it in her 2006 song, “SOS.”

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In his book, “The Uncool,” the director of the acclaimed film “Almost Famous” reflects on his experiences as a young music journalist.

Marc Almond and David Ball met while studying at Leeds Polytechnic in 1979 and subsequently formed the band Soft Cell. Ball, born May 3, 1959, in Chester, England, was raised by an adoptive family in Blackpool. He later recounted to The Guardian that Almond was known for a provocative performance art piece involving nudity, a mirror, and the unconventional use of cat food.

The band released their first album, “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret,” in 1981 and followed up with two more albums before disbanding in 1984. Rolling Stone praised their work, noting the band seemed to revel in challenging norms, and described their debut as a tribute to the world of sex work. More recently, Pitchfork highlighted the album as a vibrant representation of queer life before the AIDS epidemic.

Following the split of Soft Cell, Ball teamed up with Genesis P-Orridge from Throbbing Gristle to create a dance group called the Grid, alongside producer Richard Norris. He also contributed to studio work with popular artists such as Kylie Minogue, the Pet Shop Boys, and David Bowie.

Soft Cell briefly reunited in 2001 and again in 2018. Their website announced a new album, “Danceteria,” is planned for release in early 2026. The announcement also stated that Marc Almond’s surviving family includes four children.

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2025-10-23 22:01