Fans are waving goodbye to a 'brilliant musical genius'

Electronic music pioneer Dave Ball, one half of Leeds synth-pop legends Soft Cell and successful acid house act The Grid, has died aged 66.

- by Charles Brown

The Blackpool-born musician passed away peacefully in his sleep at his London home on Wednesday. He was 66.

Singer Marc Almond, Ball's musical collaborator of 46 years and Soft Cell bandmate, led the tributes, describing him as a "wonderfully brilliant musical genius".

What turned out to be Ball's final appearance with the band came only weeks ago at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames, where Soft Cell headlined in front of more than 20,000 fans.

Formed when electronic musician Ball and singer Almond were both art students at Leeds Polytechnic in 1979, Soft Cell helped to define the sound of British music in the 1980s and beyond.

Their 1981 debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret changed the course of pop and paved the way for an avalanche of synth-based duos, including Yazoo, Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure.