“Tainted Love” Musician, Dave Ball, Dies at 66

Dave Ball, best known as Soft Cell’s pioneering synth player, died peacefully at home in London on October 22, 2025. He was 66 and had only recently completed his final album—a project that now stands as his farewell to music.

His creative partner Marc Almond announced the news, calling Ball a “brilliant musical genius” and the duo’s “heart and soul.” It’s a fitting tribute to a man whose fingerprints are all over Soft Cell’s signature sound.

The Hit That Changed Everything

In 1981, Soft Cell took a forgotten soul track and turned it into an era-defining hit. Their version of “Tainted Love,” first sung by Gloria Jones, became a synth-pop classic—dark, danceable, and unmistakably theirs. It rocketed to the top of the UK charts, hit No. 1 in 16 countries, and sold more than 21 million copies. With that single, Soft Cell didn’t just find fame—they helped reinvent what pop music could sound like.

Dave FP / IG / Dave Ball, the synthesizer player and co-founder of the influential synth-pop duo Soft Cell, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his London home on October 22, 2025. He was 66.

Their debut album, “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret,” followed that same bold, electronic path. It gave us hits like “Bedsitter,” “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” and “Torch.” These weren’t just catchy. They were dark, honest, and strangely glamorous.

Life Beyond Soft Cell

After Soft Cell’s first split in 1984, Ball didn’t fade out. He teamed up with Richard Norris to form The Grid, a project that blended club beats with weird and wonderful sounds. Their biggest hit, “Swamp Thing,” came in 1994 and featured a banjo riff mixed into a thumping dance beat. It landed in the UK Top 10 and proved Ball still knew how to surprise people.

He also worked behind the scenes, producing music for other artists. One standout? Kylie Minogue. He didn’t need to be in the spotlight to shape the sound. He kept pushing electronic music forward, always experimenting, always curious.

Ball and Almond reunited Soft Cell several times over the years. But their latest comeback was different. They had just finished a new album, “Danceteria,” only days before Ball passed. Marc Almond said Ball was “so happy with the new album” and in a “great place emotionally.” It is a powerful final chapter, and fans will hear it in Spring 2026.

Dave FP / IG / Ball’s influence on synth-pop is massive. His keyboard work shaped the sound of the 1980s, and you can still hear his fingerprints in pop, electronic, and club music today.

Ball Was a Fighter to the End

Dave’s last years weren’t easy. In 2022, he suffered a terrible fall, which caused multiple fractures. Things got worse when he developed pneumonia and sepsis. He spent months in the hospital, even falling into a coma. For seven months, it was touch-and-go. But he pulled through and eventually returned to music, performing even in a wheelchair.

He brought an edge to pop that hadn’t been there before. Cold beats, warm emotion, and lyrics that hit close to home.

Marc Almond put it best: “At any given moment, someone somewhere in the world will be getting pleasure from a Soft Cell song.” That is not an exaggeration. “Tainted Love” still blasts in clubs, shows up in movies, and plays on old-school playlists. It is timeless.

His death is a huge loss. But his music lives on. Not just in old records or greatest hits, but in the new album fans haven’t even heard yet. “Danceteria” will be his parting gift. A final message from a man who changed music by simply turning knobs, tapping keys, and trusting his gut.