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Soft Cell

Soft Cell are an English synth-pop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. The duo consists of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The band are primarily known for their 1981 hit version of "Tainted Love" and their platinum-selling debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.[2][3]

Soft Cell

Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

1978–1984, 2000–2005, 2018–present

In the United Kingdom, Soft Cell had twelve top 40 hits,[4] including "Tainted Love" (number 1), "Torch" (number 2), "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye", "What" (both number 3), and "Bedsitter" (number 4). They also had four top 20 albums between 1981 and 1984.[4] The duo split in 1984 but reformed in 2001 to tour and release a new album. They held a reunion concert in London on 30 September 2018, stating it would be their last live UK performance as a duo but that they may still perform abroad and record together.


Soft Cell's songs have been covered by several artists, including David Gray, Coil and Nine Inch Nails.[5] Their track "Memorabilia" earned recognition for the band as pioneers of the synth-oriented techno genre.[6] The duo have sold in excess of ten million records world-wide.[7]

Influences[edit]

The group cited David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Suicide as primary influences.[38][8] Almond also named Siouxsie Sioux as a major influence for his early performance style.[39][8]

(1981)

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

(1983)

The Art of Falling Apart

(1984)

This Last Night in Sodom

(2002)

Cruelty Without Beauty

(2022)[40]

Happiness Not Included

(1999). Tainted Life. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0-283-06340-8 – via the Internet Archive.

Almond, Marc

Neal, Charles, ed. (1987). . SAF Publishing Ltd. pp. 93–103. ISBN 978-0-946719-02-0 – via the Internet Archive.

Tape Delay: Confessions from the Eighties Underground

Official website

Soft Cell singles list

BBC Top of the Pops Interview

Marc Almond's official site