‘Wonderfully brilliant musical genius’ Soft Cell’s Dave Ball dies aged 66

Dave Ball of Soft Cell has died aged 66 (Mike Owen/PA)
Soft Cell star Dave Ball has been praised as a “wonderfully brilliant musical genius” by his bandmate Marc Almond, following his death aged 66.
Ball’s death was confirmed by the band on Thursday, with a statement from Almond, 68, saying he wished his musical partner, who died on Wednesday, days after completing the band’s final album, would have “stayed on long enough to celebrate our 50 years together in a couple of years’ time”.