Dave Ball, one-half of the electronic music duo Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66. The electronic music pioneer passed away peacefully in his sleep at his London home on Wednesday 22 October, according to an announcement on Soft Cell's official website. His bandmate Marc Almond, who worked with Ball for 46 years, led the tributes, calling the musician a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius" and "the heart and soul of Soft Cell". In a lengthy statement, the 68-year-old revealed that they finished their next album, Danceteria, a few days before Ball's death. "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 wrote, before expressing his sadness that they didn't reach the 50th anniversary of their partnership. Almond continued, "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." Electronic musician Ball formed Soft Cell with singer Almond in 1979, and two years later, they released their debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, featuring their most famous hit, Tainted Love, which was Britain's best-selling single of 1981. They released four more albums between 1983 and 2022. Outside of the synth-pop group, Ball also founded the electronic duo The Grid alongside Richard Norris, and worked with the likes of David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure as a songwriter and producer. Soft Cell's upcoming album, Danceteria, is due to be released in spring 2026. Ball is survived by his close family, including his four children.