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Marc Almond, the iconic pop-synth artist, is marking his 69th birthday today.
Born Peter Mark Almond on July 9, 1957, in Southport, Northwest England, Almond rose to prominence as one half of the influential duo Soft Cell, alongside the late Dave Ball. The pair achieved widespread acclaim in the early 1980s with their breakthrough single-a cover of Motown singer Gloria Jones’s “Tainted Love.” This track not only defined a new musical era but also became one of the decade’s most enduring hits.
“Tainted Love” topped charts around the world, including the UK Singles Chart and Australia’s Kent Music Report. It also earned the prestigious Single of the Year award at the 1982 BRIT Awards.
Despite its success, Almond has shared that he initially had mixed feelings about the song. In a 2023 interview with Virgin Radio, he reflected, “I didn’t like the song for a while because I felt Soft Cell was more than just that one hit.
Over time, I realized that song opened so many doors for us-it changed everything irreversibly. For that, I will always feel grateful and lucky.”
In June 2026, Almond announced the upcoming release of Soft Cell’s sixth and final studio album, Danceteria. The 12-track collection, completed just two days before Dave Ball’s passing, is slated for release on September 25, 2026.
Describing the album, Almond said, “Danceteria is a love letter to New York in the early ’80s. The time we spent there-recording our first three albums-shaped us deeply as artists and individuals. This record is a fitting tribute to Dave and a meaningful farewell to Soft Cell as a studio project.”