Kenny Morris, drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees, has died at 68, marking the loss of a key figure from the formative years of British punk and post-punk music.
The death of Morris, the band’s original drummer, was confirmed on Thursday, January 15, by music journalist and longtime friend John Robb in Louder Than War. At the time of publication, no official cause of death or exact date had been made public.
Robb paid tribute to Morris with a deeply personal reflection, recalling their friendship and time spent together in Cork, Ireland, where the drummer had lived for many years. He described Morris as warm, thoughtful, and endlessly engaging, with a personality that blended kindness and creativity.
According to Robb, Morris had a striking sense of style that reflected his punk roots and artistic instincts. He was known for turning up in carefully assembled outfits that mixed formalwear with playful, rebellious touches, always echoing the confrontational spirit of the 1976 punk era he helped shape.
While Morris experienced periods of difficulty earlier in life, Robb noted that his move to Ireland in 1993 marked a calmer chapter. He closed his tribute with a heartfelt message, saying Morris would be remembered for his art, his long, thoughtful messages, and his gentle presence in an often harsh world.
Born in Essex in 1957 to Irish parents, Morris studied fine art and filmmaking at North East London Polytechnic and later at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. His creative path naturally intersected with music, and in 1976 he briefly joined the Flowers of Romance, a band that included his friend Sid Vicious.
In 1977, Morris became the first drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees, joining vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin shortly after the band’s formation in London. He had first seen the group perform live in 1976, when Vicious was temporarily on drums.
Recalling his audition years later, Morris shared an anecdote that captured both the chaos and spontaneity of the punk scene. Despite a rocky first impression with the band’s manager, the session quickly came together, and the group ended the day with eight songs.
Morris went on to record two influential albums with the band, The Scream (1978) and Join Hands (1979). He also played on their debut single, “Hong Kong Garden,” which became a major breakthrough, reaching No. 7 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
His time with the band ended abruptly during the 1979 Join Hands tour after a dispute at a record signing. Guitarist John McKay left at the same time. Morris was later replaced by former Slits drummer Peter “Budgie” Clarke, while Robert Smith of the Cure stepped in on guitar.
After departing the band, Morris remained creatively active. He continued drumming, directed short films, and devoted himself to painting and drawing. In his later years, he performed with the post-punk goth group Shrine of the Vampyre and had reportedly completed a memoir, expected to be published later this year.
Kenny Morris leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond music—one rooted in art, individuality, and the raw creative energy of punk’s earliest days.
