Soft Cell’s Dave Ball Dies at 66 – Cause of Death Revealed

Dave Ball, one of the founding members of the British synth-pop duo Soft Cell, has passed away at the age of 66.

The news was shared by his longtime bandmate and singer Marc Almond, who posted an emotional tribute on Thursday. Almond said that Ball died peacefully in his sleep at his home in London on October 21.

“It is hard to write this, let alone process it, but it is with the greatest sadness that the other half of Soft Cell, the wonderful brilliant musical genius David Ball, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday night,” Almond wrote.

He explained that Ball had been dealing with health problems for some time. “He had been ill for a long while and his health had been in slow decline over recent years,” Almond said. Despite his illness, Ball stayed focused on his music and continued to work in the studio even when he could no longer travel.

That determination also allowed him to keep performing with Almond as Soft Cell in the UK. The band, best known for their hit “Tainted Love,” became one of the most influential acts of the early 1980s, blending dark lyrics with catchy electronic sounds.

Almond also shared how much Ball’s work meant to people all over the world. “He will always be loved by fans who loved his music,” he said.

“It’s a cliché to say, but it lives on, and somewhere at any given time around the world someone listens to, plays, dances, and gets pleasure from a Soft Cell song — even if it’s just that particular two-and-half-minute epic.”

He ended his message with a heartfelt goodbye. “My thoughts are with his family at this time,” Almond wrote. “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.”

The news of Ball’s death was first shared by Marc Almond on social media, and fans across the world have been paying tribute to the electronic music pioneer ever since.

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