Some songs are able to stand the test of time.
We know where we were when we first heard them, and some people have fond memories associated with the songs themselves. The 1980s were filled with anthems loved by multiple generations, and Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” certainly belongs on the list.
The song was released in 1981, as the synth-pop duo from the United Kingdom would put their own spin on it. Originally released in 1964 by Gloria Jones and the Four Peps, Soft Cell turned the song into an international sensation and a worldwide hit.
The song is known for its iconic bass and synth line, and the man responsible for the music has unfortunately passed away.
The BBC reported that Dave Ball, instrumentalist for Soft Cell and one half of the British synth band, has died at the age of 66.
Ball helped create virtually all of the band’s music, beginning with their debut album “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret” in 1981. The band rose to prominence with other top acts at the turn of the decade, benefitting from heavy play in America on cable TV networks like MTV.
“He was focused and so happy with the new album that we literally completed only a few days ago,” said bandmate Marc Almond. “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.”
Soft Cell’s Multiple Reunions and New Music
As Almond mentioned, he and Ball worked on an album together called “Danceteria,” named after a famous New York nightclub of the 1980s. Almond and Ball met at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977 and formed Soft Cell together, with Ball being inspired by the band Kraftwerk from an early age.
“Tainted Love” was the band’s biggest and most influential hit, selling over 21 million copies around the world. After releasing other singles that charted in the United Kingdom, Soft Cell broke up a few years later in 1984. Ball would continue to make music, forming another band called The Grid – best known for their song “Swamp Thing.”
Ball and Almond reunited in 2001 and 2018 to release music as Soft Cell, releasing “Cruelty Without Beauty” in 2002 and “Happiness Not Included” and “Happiness Now Completed” in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
“He was the heart and soul of Soft Cell and I’m very proud of our legacy,” Almond said in a tribute message to his late bandmate. “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.”
Rest in peace to David Ball. We send condolences to his fans, friends, family and loved ones during this difficult time.
