Almond revealed that the pair had finished approving the final record right before receiving the heartbreaking news. “We just listened to the album through and we just finished it, and ticked it off and said we were both really happy with it,” Almond shared during the interview. “Two days later, somebody came into the room and said, ‘I’ve got some really bad news for you, Dave has passed away.'”
He described the experience of releasing the new music as a deeply bittersweet moment for the band’s legacy. “That was literally two days after we’d ticked off the album and said we were really happy with it. I thought this timing, you’ve left me holding the baby, thanks very much!” Almond joked fondly, adding that while there is an undeniable sadness to the release, he takes comfort in knowing how proud they both were of the finished work.
Almond also highlighted how the creative process brought the long-time collaborators closer together during Ball’s final months. “I think the great thing is towards the end, Dave and I had more contact with each other than we had for quite a while,” he said. Despite Ball facing serious health challenges in recent years, including breaking his back and using a motorized chair, the musician remained dedicated to creating music and performing live.
Almond noted that Ball was in high spirits as they completed the record, even expressing enthusiasm about the prospect of performing upcoming shows together. The full conversation is available on The Chris Moyles Show, which airs on Radio X weekdays from 06:30 to 10:00 and Saturdays from 08:00 to 11:00 across the UK and on YouTube.
