British music producer and instrumentalist Dave Ball, best known as one half of the pioneering synth-pop duo Soft Cell, has died. He was 66.

Ball, who had been battling health issues in recent years, "passed away peacefully in his sleep" at his London home on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Soft Cell confirmed in a Thursday tribute shared on its social media channels. The electronic musician's death comes a few weeks after Ball performed with Soft Cell at the Rewind Festival in England, where the group reportedly played to over 20,000 fans.

In an emotional statement, Ball's bandmate, singer Marc Almond, remembered Ball as a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius," revealing that they recently completed work on their forthcoming album "Danceteria."

"It is hard to write this, let alone process it, as Dave was in such a great place emotionally," Almond wrote on Soft Cell's official website. "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.

"Dave's music is better than ever. His tunes and hooks are still unmistakably Soft Cell, yet he always took it to the next level too," Almond added. "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."

In 2023, Ball suffered a series of health ordeals after a severe fall down the stairs landed him in the hospital with a fractured spine, about five cracked ribs and a broken wrist. He also contracted pneumonia and sepsis and was eventually placed in an induced coma.

"I managed to damage myself quite a bit," Ball told The Yorkshire Post in June 2023. "Next time you see me onstage — and I'm not joking — I'll probably be wheeled on, literally. It's definitely not an image, it's a necessity."

Dave Ball becomes techno trailblazer with Soft Cell fame

Soft Cell's musical genesis goes back to Ball's art school days with Almond at Leeds Polytechnic in the late '70s. Influenced by soul music and the work of German electronic group Kraftwerk, Ball first joined forces with Almond when he provided some music for a performance art piece Almond had been working on.

"In the early days, we were obnoxious and difficult, two belligerent art students who wanted to do things our way, even if it was the wrong way," Almond reflected in his tribute. "We were naive and made mistakes, although we never really saw them as such. It was all just a part of the adventure. Dave and I were always a bit chalk-and-cheese, but maybe that's why the chemistry between us worked so well."

The band's debut album, "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret," was released in November 1981 and spawned the worldwide hit "Tainted Love," a cover of the 1964 soul-pop track by Gloria Jones. The song peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also became the second best-selling British single of 1981.

Soft Cell's innovative club music helped define the electronic music scene of the '80s, paving the way for other synth-pop acts such as Yazoo, Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure.

Soft Cell reunions revive musical legacy

Ball and Almond's tenure of pop stardom was short-lived, in part due to the duo's struggles with fame and drug use. Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 following the release of the group's third album "This Last Night in Sodom."

In 1988, Ball formed the group The Grid with keyboardist Richard Norris and vocalist Sacha Souter. The house music outfit scored numerous hits, including "Swamp Thing," "Crystal Clear" and "Rollercoaster."

Despite their musical breakup, Ball and Almond mended ties over the years and reunited Soft Cell for 2002's "Cruelty Without Beauty" and 2022's "Happiness Not Included." The group also performed a 2018 concert at The O2 in London.

"Whenever we came back together after long periods apart, there was always that warmth and chemistry," Almond said in his tribute to Ball. "There was a deep mutual respect that gave our combined songwriting its unique power. We laughed a lot and shared a sense of humor and a love of film, books and music. ... He was the heart and soul of Soft Cell, and I'm very proud of our legacy."

When does Soft Cell's new album come out?

Soft Cell's final album, "Danceteria," is expected to be released in spring 2026, according to the band's official website.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dave Ball, one half of 'Tainted Love' electronic duo Soft Cell, dies at 66

Reporting by Edward Segarra, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect