Soft Cell Co-Founder Dave Ball Dies at 66

Dave Ball, co‑founder and the instrumental half of pioneering synth‑pop duo Soft Cell, has died aged 66, reportedly peacefully in his London home on Oct. 22. Bandmate Marc Almond paid tribute, calling Ball a “wonderfully brilliant musical genius,” and colleagues have highlighted his influence and friendship. He was the electronic architect behind Soft Cell hits including their 1981 cover of “Tainted Love” and “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” and later formed The Grid, known for the 1994 hit “Swamp Thing.” Ball had faced serious health problems in recent years after a back injury—performing from a wheelchair and undergoing lengthy hospital treatment for pneumonia and sepsis—but stayed active, performing this summer at Rewind Festival and completing Soft Cell’s final album, Danceteria, only days before its planned release next year. No official cause of death has been released.