David Ball (British musician)


David James Ball is an English producer and electronic musician, who has played in bands such as Soft Cell and The Grid, and collaborated with other producers including Ingo Vauk and Chris Braide. He is usually called Dave Ball on record sleeves.

Life and career

Ball was born in Chester, Cheshire, England, later adopted and growing up in Blackpool. He studied at Arnold School before studying art at Leeds Polytechnic, where he met Marc Almond; they formed the synthpop duo Soft Cell in 1978, the band lasting until 1984. In 1983, while with the group, he released a solo album, In Strict Tempo, which featured Gavin Friday, Genesis P-Orridge and Virginia Astley. Later he collaborated with P-Orridge on soundtrack for West German film Decoder, which also featured other Some Bizzare artists.
After Soft Cell disbanded Ball formed a new band, Other People with his then-wife Gini Hewes and Andy Astle, but they released only one single "Have A Nice Day". In late 80s he formed another short lived band English Boy On The Loveranch, with Nick Sanderson and Jamie Jones, releasing two Hi-NRG singles "The Man In Your Life" and "Sex Vigilante." He also was part of Psychic TV, working on the compilation albums Jack the Tab and Tekno Acid Beat, where he met Richard Norris and with whom he later formed The Grid.
Ball reunited with Almond in Soft Cell in 2001, releasing new album Cruelty Without Beauty. In 2010, he formed the band Nitewreckage with Celine Hispiche, Rick Mulhall and Terry Neale. Their debut album, Take Your Money and Run, was released on Alaska Sounds on 6 June 2011, with the single "Solarcoaster" preceding it. The album was co-produced and mixed by Martin Rushent. In 2016 Ball and classical pianist Jon Savage collaborated on experimental electronic album Photosynthesis. In 2018 Soft Cell saw another reunion for final live show, celebrating 40th anniversary since duo was formed.
Dave Ball also worked as a producer, with Vicious Pink Phenomena,, Vanessa-Mae and Erasure. Ball also worked with Friday on a cover of Suicide's "Ghost Rider" for the Alan Vega 70th Birthday Limited Edition EP Series.
Ball lives in Kennington, south London.

Discography