Synth-pop musician Dave Ball, who was one half of the popular 1980s band Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66.

The electronic musician, who, along with bandmate Marc Almond scored a UK Number One hit with Tainted Love, died on Wednesday.

Bandmate Almond described him as a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius".

Almond, 68, said: "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...

"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

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