Soft Cell

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Marc Almond as an international artist is both critically acclaimed and hugely successful as a singer, songwriter and performer.

With Dave Ball he established the first successful British electro-duo: Soft Cell. Soft Cell had a string of international hits, the most successful having been their multi-million selling version of the northern soul song 'Tainted Love'. The song is as popular today as it was in 1981 and is regularly aired with the duo's other hit singles 'Bedsitter', 'Numbers', 'Torch' and 'Say Hello Wave Goodbye'. The record 'Memorabilia' was the first techno record ever, and set the pace for a whole musical movement. Soft Cell notched up in excess of 10 million record sales world-wide and established a style that was to influence several generations of musicians that followed - from Pulp to Blur, The Pet Shop Boys to The Divine Comedy.

In March 2001 Marc Almond and Dave Ball reformed for a Soft Cell concert to mark the opening of the new London venue Ocean: it was their first concert for 17 years. The response was ecstatic and resulted in a brand new album, 'Cruelty Without Beauty', which was released on Cooking Vinyl in 2002 and a tour of Britain, Europe and America followed. The album received glowing reviews from the music critics and the tour was not only welcomed by hard core fans but a whole new young audience that was now listening to the new electro clash sounds from Europe and America that had in turn been influenced originally by Soft Cell. The single 'The Night', taken from the new album was a Top 40 hit and saw Soft Cell perform together on Top Of The Pops for the first time since the eighties.

It looked like the year was proving to be one of the most successful of Marc's career but then, on 17 October, it all stopped when he was involved in a near fatal motorcycle crash. He remained unconscious for over two weeks whilst sustaining critical injuries. All work was put on hold from that point and 2005 has been a gradual recovery, a slow and difficult process - and one which he hopes will see him eventually return to a full stage show and new studio album in 2006. The injuries sustained to his head, hearing and voice were extremely traumatic yet his determination not to be beaten carried him through and, after working with his physiotherapist and vocal coach, he is on the way back, if not fully recovered, at least part way in achieving his aims.