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Almond, Marc

Soft Cell's Dave Ball Remembered as "Wondrous Musical Genius" by Bandmate Marc Almond

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Soft Cell's Dave Ball was hailed as a "wondrously brilliant musical genius" by his bandmate Marc Almond, following his death at the age of 66. Ball completed the band's final album, Danceteria, just days before his passing, with Almond expressing his sadness that he would not be able to celebrate their 50-year anniversary together in the music industry. The duo's music is remembered for its ability to transcend time, with Almond stating that Ball's tunes and hooks are "still unmistakably Soft Cell, yet he always took it to the next level too."

Key Takeaways:

  • Dave Ball was praised as a "wondrously brilliant musical genius" by his bandmate Marc Almond.
  • Ball completed Soft Cell's final album, Danceteria, just days before his death at the age of 66.
  • The duo's music is remembered for its ability to transcend time, with Ball's tunes and hooks still unmistakably Soft Cell, yet always taking it to the next level.
  • Ball was a key figure in Soft Cell's pioneering synth-pop sound, with the duo being one of the first to popularize the 1980s electronic music scene.
  • Ball's death comes just weeks after he performed his final gig with Soft Cell at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames.
  • Soft Cell went on to release several albums after their reunion in 2000, including Cruelty Without Beauty in 2002 and Happiness Not Included in 2022.
  • Ball also founded the acid house group The Grid in 1988, which was known for hits such as Swamp Thing and Crystal Clear.
  • Ball is survived by his close family, including his four children.

Statistics:

  • 50 years: The number of years that Soft Cell would have stayed together had Ball lived long enough to celebrate their 50-year anniversary with Almond.
  • 6: The number of studio albums released by Soft Cell, including Danceteria, which was completed just days before Ball's death.
  • 2: The number of bandmates who went on to form The Grid, the acid house group founded by Ball in 1988.
  • 4: The number of children that Ball is survived by.

Sources:

  • Almond, Marc. "Tribute to Dave Ball." The Telegraph, n.d.
  • "Dave Ball: 'The heart and soul of Soft Cell'." The Independent, n.d.
  • Norris, Richard. "Paying tribute to Dave Ball, founder of The Grid." Mixmag, n.d.
  • CAPTION(S): POP DUO: Dave Ball, left, and Marc Almond in 2002.

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