Soft Cell

Soft Cell was a British synthpop duo formed in London in 1977. The group consisted of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. They rose to fame with their 1981 hit single "Tainted Love," which reached the top of the charts in several countries. Marc Almond is an accomplished painter and sculptor, in addition to being a singer. The band's name was inspired by a sociology book called "The Myth of the "Soft Machine" written by William S. Burroughs. Soft Cell's first gig was at a gay club in London, and they often performed at venues catering to LGBTQ audiences. Soft Cell's last performance together was in January 2018, exactly 37 years to the day since they first performed together. They were known for their unique blend of synthpop, new wave, and electronic music, and their theatrical live shows.