Origin Blackpool, England Name David Ball Labels Some Bizzare, | Years active 1978–present Genres Synthpop, new wave | |
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Born 3 May 1959 (age 64) ( 1959-05-03 ) Instruments Keyboards, synthesiser, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, vocals Associated acts Soft Cell
The Grid, Nitewreckage | ||
David James Ball (born 3 May 1959) 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 referred to as Dave Ball on record sleeves.
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Life and career
Ball was born in Blackpool, England, son of Don and Brenda, sister to Susan, on Orkney Road, 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 1977, 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. He later worked as a producer (working with The Virgin Prunes and Ornamental), remixer (working with The Pet Shop Boys and David Bowie), and recorded for film soundtracks and formed another duo, The Grid, with Richard Norris, with whom he has worked as part of Psychic TV on the Jack the Tab – Acid Tablets Volume One (Dave and Richard recorded the track "Meet Every Situation Head On" together as M.E.S.H.). He reunited with Almond in Soft Cell in 2001. 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. He lives in Kennington, south London.