Soft Cell

Soft Cell is an English Synth-pop, New wave duo from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The group, formed in 1978 by vocalist Marc Almond, and instrumentalist David Ball became one of the faces of the 80’s New wave and Dark wave movement.

Soft Cell began recording their debut EP, which was funded by David Ball’s mother. Their EP, Mutant Moments, released in 1980, and caught the attention of Some Bizarre Records. The duo were featured on the label’s first compilation album Some Bizarre Album in 1981, along side Depeche Mode and Naked Lunch.

After failing to reach success outside of nightclubs, their backing label Phonogram Records gave them one last opportunity to make achieve chart success. This led to the two recording their infamous cover of Gloria Jones‘ song “Tainted Love,” where they charted at No. 1 on the UK Single Chart in 1981, and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. Along with “Tainted Love”, the duo released a cover of The Supremes’ song “Where Did Our Love Go?”

The following year in 1982, Soft Cell released their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret which was another huge success for the duo with positive reception from critics and the album reaching No. 5 on the UK Albums chart, and No. 22 on the Billboard 200. The albums release was followed by a mini album titled Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing filled with remixes of songs from Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

In 1983, the two released their third album The Art of Falling Apart, which followed a series of drug-related issues between Marc and David.
After the release of their fourth album, This Last Night in Sodom in 1984, Soft Cell decided to break up.

The two reunited in 2000 for various live performances and later their fifth album Cruelty Without Beauty. In 2005, Soft Cell also released their album The Bedsit Tapes which featured original demo tracks recorded throughout their career.

In 2021, they released their seventh studio album, Happiness Not Included, which was followed by their album Happiness Now Completed in 2024.

After the duo completed recording for their ninth studio album Danceteria, David Ball tragically passed away in his sleep on October 22, 2025, at 66 years old. Marc Almond has gone on record to say that Danceteria will be the final project by Soft Cell.