Tainted life: pop prince's success and excess

1981 As Soft Cell, a pioneering British electro duo with Dave Ball (below), Almond releases multimillion-selling single Tainted Love.

1984 Soft Cell disband prior to release of third album, This Last Night in Sodom. (They will reunite 17 years later for a series of live shows and an album, Cruelty Without Beauty in 2002.)

1985 Has success as Marc and Mambas, and later the Willing Sinners. Solo single Stories of Johnny reaches No23 on the British charts.

1989 Duet with Gene Pitney, Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart, reaches top of the charts and another hit with David McWilliams, The Days of Pearly Spencer, peaks at No4. Releases Jacques Brel tribute album, Jacques, to critical acclaim.

1999 Writes autobiography, Tainted Life, detailing his childhood, promiscuous sex life and battle with drug addiction.

2004 Writes a travel memoir, In Search of the Pleasure Palace: Disreputable Travels. Has motorbike accident.

2005 Makes guest appearance at Patti Smith's Meltdown Festival, singing two songs.

2008 Next album of original music, tentatively titled Dining with Panthers, due for release.