Soft Cell stage comeback

LONDON, England -- The UK's Eighties revival continues a pace with pop duo Soft Cell reforming to play their first gig for almost 17 years.

The pair split in 1984 after a string of hits which established them as one of the period's biggest-selling acts.

Appearing together again on Thursday night to launch the £23 million London venue Ocean, singer Marc Almond told the crowd of 2,000: "It's a thrill to be here."

He and musician David Ball trawled through a selection of hits including the best-selling single of 1981 -- and the band's anthem -- Tainted Love.

"Well, we have to do it," Almond joked as they began the song.

Other tracks aired included Sex Dwarf, Torch, Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.

The duo -- who carved out their own musical careers after the split -- had always looked an odd pairing and looked as much so as in their heyday.

After meeting at a college in Leeds, the pair began playing experimental electronic music but reached a wider public after scoring a surprise number one with northern soul cover Tainted Love.

After the band's demise, Ball became a dancefloor pioneer with acts like The Grid who notched up a big hit with Swamp Thing.

Almond had solo success with covers of the Days of Pearly Spencer, Scott Walker's Jacky and his chart-topping link-up with veteran Gene Pitney on Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart.

"It's all a bit strange," said the bleach-haired singer about the reunion.

The band, who are due to play two more nights at the state-of-the-art venue, in Hackney, east London, are following many of their contemporaries of the early 80s.

In recent years, top bands such as the Eurthymics, Culture Club, Blondie, The Human League and Madness have all reformed with varying degrees of success.

Reunited Blondie rapturous again
March 2, 1999
Eurythmics first tour in 10 years

Soft Cell
The Marc Almond Message Board

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.