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Soft Cell's gay frontman: Homophobia has 'taken other faces' since '80s prejudice

advocate.com · 9h · first reportShare

This story originally appeared on Out . For nearly five decades, Soft Cell has radically reshaped electronic music with its signature collision of raw emotion, soulful melodrama, and synthesizer sleaze. From the neon-drenched grooves of their acclaimed 1981 debut, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, to an illustrious 27-album solo run, Marc Almond’s distinctive voice and theatrical flair have stood as a beacon for alternative pop and queer culture for over four decades. Now, as the synth-pop legends prepare to release their sixth and final studio album, Danceteria , the Soft Cell frontman finds himself reflecting on an album that’s not only just a triumphant artistic climax, but also a bittersweet farewell. Completed just days prior to the tragic death of founding member Dave Ball — who died on October 22, 2025 at the age of 66 — Danceteria stands as a definitive last chapter for one of Britain’s most iconic synth-pop acts. Danceteria album cover art Republic of Music While Soft Cell will always