Dave Ball, the instrumentalist in the influential British synth-pop duo Soft Cell, has died at age 66, according to the BBC. Ball helped propel Soft Cell to global fame with their 1981 cover of Gloria Jones’s song “Tainted Love,” a worldwide hit that remains a defining track of the era. The report notes no specific cause of death, though Ball had suffered serious health complications after a back injury. Soft Cell, fronted by Marc Almond, rose to international prominence in the early 1980s with Tainted Love and a string of synth-driven hits that helped shape the sound of new wave and electronic pop. Ball’s contributions as the duo’s instrumentalist were central to Soft Cell’s distinctive groove and enduring legacy in pop music. Fans and fellow musicians are paying tribute to Ball, recognizing his role in creating one of the era’s most memorable pop anthems. The BBC’s confirmation marks the passing of a musician whose work continues to influence artists across pop, electronic, and indie scenes.