David Ball, a key member of the synth-pop duo Soft Cell, left an estate valued at over £2.5 million to be shared among his four children. Ball, a synthesizer player and music producer, died in October at the age of 66. Probate records indicate his estate was valued at £2,516,485 after liabilities.
His will specifies that his son James Ball and daughter Victoria Ball will each receive 30% of the estate. His daughter Georgina Alderson and son Elliott Stratford Ball will each receive 20%. Ball also left a £25,000 bequest to a friend, David Chambers.
Ball, born in Chester in 1959, formed Soft Cell with vocalist Marc Almond in 1978. The band achieved significant success, most notably with their 1981 chart-topping cover of Gloria Jones's "Tainted Love." Other hits for the duo include "Bedsitter" and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye."
Career Highlights and Later Projects
Before his death, Ball had just completed a seventh Soft Cell album, titled "Danceteria," with Almond. The album was due for release the month after the details of his will were revealed. Ball had suffered a fall at his London home in 2022, resulting in lasting back problems that led him to perform in a wheelchair at his final gig in August 2025.
Beyond Soft Cell, Ball also formed the electronic dance act The Grid with Richard Norris. His solo work includes the 1983 album "In Strict Tempo" and contributions to the soundtrack for the 1984 film "Decoder." He also worked as a producer, songwriter, and remixer for artists such as Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, and the Pet Shop Boys.
Almond paid tribute to Ball as a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius," noting their nearly 50-year creative partnership. Soft Cell manager Chris Smith described Ball as a "genial, larger-than-life character and a quiet, understated genius of electronic music." Ball's record label, BMG, stated that few artists had shaped electronic music to the extent he had.
Soft Cell initially disbanded in 1984 but reunited in 2000. They released several albums following their reunion, including "Happiness Not Included" in 2022. Almond indicated that he and Ball had been planning a major tour for 2026. Ball's wishes were for his body to be cremated.