‘The BBC was jammed with complaints’ – Soft Cell look back ahead of Blenheim show

Vocalist Marc Almond’s look created a stir when the electro pop duo appeared on the early night pop show within the early 80s.

Instrumentalist Dave stated: “I do not suppose we thought lengthy and exhausting about it beforehand, we have been simply being who we have been on the time, it was a real reflection of ourselves, two younger folks not lengthy out of high quality artwork levels at Leeds University.

Marc Almond and Dave Ball within the early 80s (Image: Newsquest)

“I feel they have been shocked when he noticed his mascara and bangles however then once more that was at all times how Marc appeared, so it was by no means surprising to these round us. 

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“Although we lived in very completely different instances back then when you might be overwhelmed up on the street for trying something out of the strange.    

“But folks had most likely obtained very used to us by the point we would carried out on there a couple of instances, and it not shocked, particularly as most different male artists acting on there have been additionally utilizing make up. 

“We were a year ahead of Culture Club’s first appearance though, and I guess trailblazers for many artists that followed us.”

The duo, who will carry out at Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace tomorrow night time (June 14), had solely been a band for barely a 12 months when their model of Tainted Love grew to become a worldwide hit and debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret went multi-platinum.

Dave, who grew up in Blackpool and is a lifelong fan of Northern Soul, stated they have been ‘very stunned’ by the success of the Gloria Jones cowl.

“We thought it would be a minor one-off hit and then we could go back to being darker and more alternative,” he stated. 

“But it turned out precisely the alternative, and we had a whirlwind few years after we have been barely out of the charts each within the UK and overseas. 

“Even today,  Tainted Love is still in the Top 100 best selling singles of all time in the US, which is mind-blowing,” he stated.

Between 1981 and 1984 the duo had comply with-up hits Bedsitter, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, Torch and What! in addition to 4 prime 20 albums in three years.

“Bedsitter was our follow up to Tainted Love,” he stated. “It was a giant hit in all places aside from in America – we did not work out why till a lot later after we have been advised bedsit shouldn’t be a phrase used within the US, so no-one knew what it meant. 

“Mind you, Condoland doesn’t really have the same ring to it.”

Marc Almond performing in 2023 (Image: Celia Bartlett)

Marc and Dave had initially gone their separate methods in 1984 however reunited in 2018 for a last show at London’s O2.

However, the response to the offered-out show was so big it was not wave goodbye extra a brand new begin.

He stated: “We have been amazed by the quantity of presents that got here in after the show, and when BMG and Universal supplied us new offers, we selected BMG. 

“Our outdated label, Universal are at the moment releasing deluxe reissues of all our Nineteen Eighties albums, and are releasing extra later this 12 months.

“Our final album, *Happiness Not Included stunned us when it entered the Top 10 album chart within the UK, and did effectively elsewhere too.

“The lead single from it ‘Purple Zone’ was with Pet Shop Boys, and was primary within the bodily format chart, and was an enormous airplay hit. 

“It was nice that something else was getting played on the radio other than Tainted Love! It went so well that we have literally just started to record our next album.”

The band whose followers embrace Paul McCartney and Trent Reznor, have even been immortalised in standard tradition by Alan Partridge – Ruddy hell, it’s Soft Cell.

But the covers by Rihanna and Marilyn Manson are their favorite.

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“We have to say the sample of Tainted Live in Rihanna’s SOS has been the most financially lucrative for us,” stated Dave. “The Marilyn Manson cover is also great.”

So how do they suggest to create a ‘darker, extra different’ vibe at a stately residence within the Oxfordshire countryside?

“The show is a 90 minute audiovisual spectacular,” he stated. “As effectively as all of the hits, we additionally carry out many of our deeper cuts and album tracks, and we’re additionally performing two tracks at this show which have by no means been carried out dwell by us earlier than as a Blenheim unique.

“I’m really excited about Soft Cell performing this special one-off show in such a historic and unique location.”

Nocturne Live live performance collection runs from June 13-16 at Blenheim Palace. www.nocturnelive.com.