Dave Ball, who served as half of the English duo Soft Cell and perhaps best known for the 1981 hit “Tainted Love,” has died. He was 66.
Marc Almond, Ball’s music partner and the other half of the synth-pop pair, announced the news in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Almond, 68, revealed that the late instrumentalist died “peacefully in his sleep” on Tuesday, Oct. 21. No cause of death was given.
“As many of you are aware, Dave has been ill for a long while and his health had been in slow decline over recent years,” the Soft Cell co-founder shared. “Yet he always came back with a determined spirit to continue his work in the studio.”
The “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret” artist added that although Ball had been “unable to travel abroad,” he was “still able to perform with me as Soft Cell on occasions in the UK.”
Ball’s last concert appearance was at the Rewind Festival outside Henley-on-Thames back in August, Almond said, when the duo performed before an audience of more than 20,000 people.
During that show, Ball reportedly performed in a wheelchair after fracturing part of his spine, cracking five ribs and breaking his wrist two years earlier, according to the BBC.
He later caught pneumonia and developed sepsis, the outlet reported, and was placed in an induced coma for months.
Ball and Almond, meanwhile, completed a new album, “Danceteria,” just days before the producer’s death.
“The pair of us have been on a journey together heading on for 50 years with ups and downs, successes and failures, though to us it was never failure, just all part of the adventure, and it was one hell of an adventure,” the new wave rocker shared.
“Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me,” he later concluded his touching tribute. “I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”
Ball and Almond formed Soft Cell together in 1978. Although they collaborated and performed across the UK for a few years, the duo didn’t get big until 1981 and the release of their platinum-selling debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.
“Tainted Love,” a cover originally released by R&B queen Gloria Jones in 1964, quickly became a No. 1 hit and went on to sell more than 20 million copies, per the BBC.
The Post has reached out to Almond’s reps for further comment.
Soft Cell’s official website remembered the late electronic musician in a separate message.
The site shared that Ball “passed away peacefully in his sleep” at his home in London, but claimed that he died on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
“Dave’s passing is announced with great sadness and affection for this gregarious, warm-hearted man of many musical talents,” the message read, in part.
“Dave is survived by his close family including his four children,” it continued. “We would like to respect Dave Ball’s family’s privacy at this very sad time.”
Another artist to pay tribute to Ball following the news of his passing was Richard Norris, a member of the electronic dance duo The Grid. Ball and Norris formed The Grid in 1988.
“Dave has been a huge part of my musical life for many years,” the musician and DJ began. “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,” Norris, 60, added. “Most of all, thank you for the music.”
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