Kenny Morris, the early drummer for Siouxsie And The Banshees, has died at the age of 68.
The musician was a key figure during the formative years of the influential post-punk group and played on their first two studio albums, helping to shape a sound that would go on to inspire generations of alternative and gothic artists. News of his passing was confirmed on Thursday (15.01.26), with outlets including Louder Than War reporting the loss.
Louder Than War founder and journalist John Robb, who was also a close friend of Morris, shared a heartfelt tribute reflecting on both his musical legacy and his personality.
John said: “Kenny was a friend of ours, and it was always a pleasure to see and hang out with him when visiting Cork in Ireland, where he had been living. He was sweet, articulate, artistic and fascinating company and his beautiful eccentricity was adorable.”
He continued: “He would turn up in a suit and a dress with open handcuffs on one hand and the next time in a totally different yet perfectly created bricolage of style, whilst still dressing in the artful confrontation of the 1976 punk era that he was such a key part of.”
Morris joined Siouxsie And The Banshees in 1977, during the explosive early days of the UK punk movement. While the band’s first-ever drummer was Sid Vicious — who played a single show before joining the Sex Pistols — it was Morris who became the group’s first permanent sticksman and laid down their earliest recordings.
He performed on the band’s debut album The Scream in 1978 and its follow-up Join Hands in 1979, records now regarded as cornerstones of post-punk.
Morris left the group in late 1979 alongside guitarist John McKay following internal disagreements.
Following his departure, Morris stepped away from the mainstream spotlight, later living in Cork, Ireland.