Marc Almond, the frontman of the British synth-pop band Soft Cell, has revealed that his record label pressured him to hide his sexuality during the 1980s, warning that his career would be over if he was open about being gay. Almond, 69, described the era as a "strange and scary time" for artists.
Almond stated that he and other artists, including The Pet Shop Boys and Morrissey, were advised to present a more ambiguous public image. "We were scared. We were told our career would be over," Almond said in an interview with The Times, as reported by the Daily Mail. "You don't have to say yes or no - just be blurry."
Despite the pressure to remain vague, Almond felt his sexuality was apparent to the public. He recalled his bandmate Dave Ball suggesting he tone down his on-stage persona, saying, "Can you make it just a little bit less gay?" Almond added, "But the records were hits. People didn't care. It's as if I had a neon sign, shouting it from the rooftops. I was as camp as I could possibly be."
Soft Cell, known for their 1981 hit "Tainted Love" and the platinum-selling album "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret," was formed by Almond and keyboardist Dave Ball in 1978. The band's music often pushed boundaries, with songs like "Sex Dwarf."
Morrissey has previously addressed speculation about his sexuality, stating in 2013 that he was "am not homosexual" but rather "humasexual," attracted to humans.
Dave Ball died in October prior to the scheduled release of the band's seventh album, "Danceteria," which he completed with Almond shortly before his death. Almond paid tribute to Ball, calling him a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius." Ball's record label, BMG, noted his significant impact on electronic music.