- Who Was Soft Cell Star Dave Ball Married To, Dave was married to musician Gini Hewes; they collaborated professionally and later divorced.
- He co-founded the band Other People with Hewes after Soft Cell ended.
- Ball battled serious health problems in recent years, including pneumonia and a coma.
- He continued working on Soft Cell music despite his illness until his death at 66.
- Marc Almond and fans worldwide mourn Ball’s passing and celebrate his lasting musical legacy.
The music world is mourning the loss of Dave Ball, the synth-pop pioneer and one half of the iconic duo Soft Cell, who passed away peacefully in his sleep at his London home on October 22, 2025. He was 66. His bandmate, Marc Almond, confirmed the news, sharing that Ball had been “ill for a long while and his health had been in slow decline over recent years”.
Despite his health struggles, Ball had just completed work on a new Soft Cell album, Danceteria, days before his passing.While his professional legacy is cemented in hits like “Tainted Love,” his personal life, particularly his marriage, also played a significant role in his artistic journey.
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Who Was Dave Ball Married To?
Dave Ball was married to musician and violinist Gini Hewes. Though the exact dates of their relationship remain private, their partnership was both personal and professional.
The couple collaborated closely after Soft Cell’s initial disbandment in 1984, founding the band Other People together. Their professional collaboration extended to co-writing music for a stage production of Suddenly Last Summer and both working with the experimental collective Psychic TV. Despite their eventual divorce, their creative union was a notable chapter in Ball’s life.
Gini Hewes: The Musician Behind the Marriage
Gini Hewes, whose real name is Virginia Ball, is an accomplished musician in her own right. A trained violinist, she graduated from the Royal College of Music and helped found the punk classical group Humoresque.
Her career is marked by impressive collaborations with a wide range of artists. She has toured and recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees, collaborated with Nick Cave, and even worked with Marc Almond on his project Marc and the Mambas. Her work as a violinist, singer, and composer made her a respected figure within the music scene, and her brother is cellist Martin McCarrick.
Dave Ball’s Enduring Legacy and Family
Beyond his marriage to Hewes, Dave Ball’s personal life was centered around his family. He is survived by his four children and close family members.
His legacy in music is profound. From meeting Marc Almond at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977 to forming Soft Cell and creating the global phenomenon “Tainted Love,” Ball shaped the sound of a generation. His career continued to evolve with the successful dance project The Grid, known for the hit “Swamp Thing,” and his work as a producer for artists like Kylie Minogue and David Bowie.
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Even after a severe fall in 2022 that left him with a broken back and a long recovery, his passion for music never wavered. His final live performance with Soft Cell was at the Rewind Festival in August 2025, where he headlined for over 20,000 people.
A Final Farewell from His Closest Collaborator
Marc Almond’s tribute paints a picture of a deep, decades-long friendship and creative partnership. He remembered Ball as a “wonderfully brilliant musical genius”.
Almond’s statement poignantly captured their bond: “Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me. I wouldn’t be where I am without you”. He also expressed his sorrow that Ball would not be there to celebrate their 50th anniversary, noting, “I wish he could have stayed on to celebrate 50 years in a couple of years’ time”.
Last Updated on October 24, 2025 by 247 News Around The World
