David Ball, a key Soft Cell figure, has passed away

Legendary British electronic musician and producer, David Ball, who was one of the founders and key figure of the band Soft Cell, died on October 22, 2025 at the age of 66 at home in London. His death was announced by Soft Cell frontman Mark Almond.

Ball, who was engaged in the solo project Grid, for almost half a century collaborated with Mark Almond, leaving an indelible mark in pop music. Their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981) was groundbreaking, spawning many synth-pop duets, and the single "Tainted Love" topped the charts in many countries around the world and was voted the best-selling UK single of 1981.

During his career, Ball worked with such legends as David Bowie and Kylie Minogue, and released four studio albums with Soft Cell, as well as being part of the band Grid. He was the soul and heart of Soft Cell, deeply respected as a talented musician and friend. “He was an amazingly brilliant musical genius and we have worked together for almost 50 years,” Almond wrote, noting that Ball left a huge legacy and his contribution to music could not be overstated.