Soft Cell star Dave Ball has sadly died at the age of 66.
Dave's representatives said he "passed away peacefully in his sleep at his London home on Wednesday." His cause of death is yet to be released. News of Dave's death was also shared by his Soft Cell bandmate Marc Almond on Facebook on Thursday, just says after they'd finished recording their final album together.
Marc described his bandmate as a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius" in a statement. He said he wished Dave would have "stayed on long enough to celebrate our 50 years together in a couple of years' time."
Writing on the official Soft Cell site, Dave shared, "It is hard to write this, let alone process it, as Dave was in such a great place emotionally. He was focused and so happy with the new album that we literally completed only a few days ago. 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."
He continued, "Dave’s music is better than ever. His tunes and hooks are still unmistakably Soft Cell, yet he always took it to the next level too. He was a wonderfully brilliant musical genius and the pair of us have been on a journey together for almost 50 years."
Marc admitted that when he and Dave first started making music, they were "obnoxious and difficult." He shared, "We were naive and made mistakes, although we never really saw them as such. It was all just a part of the adventure. Dave and I were always a bit chalk-and-cheese, but maybe that’s why the chemistry between us worked so well."
Marc said there was a "deep mutual respect" with Dave and recalled, "We laughed a lot, and shared a sense of humor, and a love of film, books and music. Dave had shelves full of books and an array of wonderful and surprising musical references. He was the heart and soul of Soft Cell and I’m very proud of our legacy."
His tribute continued, "I just wish that Dave could have stayed on long enough to celebrate our 50 years together in a couple of year’s time. He will always be loved by the Soft Cell fans who love his music and his music and memory will live on. At any given moment, someone somewhere in the world will be getting pleasure from a Soft Cell song.
"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." Dave's death comes just weeks after he performed his last ever gig with Soft Cell when the band headlined Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames, England, in August.
Soft Cell was formed after Dave and Marc met at university. They were best known for songs such as Say Hello, Wave Goodbye and Torch. They also had a hit with their cover of Gloria Jones' Tainted Love.
Soft Cell completed their sixth studio album, titled Danceteria, just days before Dave's death. It's due to be released in Spring 2026.
As well as his work with Soft Cell, Dave founded the acid house group The Grid with Richard Norris in 1988. Paying tribute to his bandmate, Richard said, "Dave has been a huge part of my musical life for many years. Being in a duo with someone is different from being in a band, the bond is very tight. That's how it was with us.
"We went through so many remarkable, extraordinary, life-affirming experiences together. Thank you, Dave. Thanks for the good times, the endless laughter, your unwavering friendship. Most of all, thank you for the music."