Kenny Morris, who was the original drummer for the British punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, has passed away at the age of 68.
The news was shared on Thursday by Jon Robb, a music journalist and close friend of Morris. The cause of his death hasn’t been revealed yet.
Robb expressed his sorrow, remembering Morris fondly. “Kenny was a friend, and we always looked forward to seeing him when we visited Cork, Ireland, where he lived,” he wrote. “He was kind, articulate, artistic, and charming. His lovely eccentricity was something special.”
He further noted how Morris had a unique way of dressing, sometimes appearing in suits or dresses with open handcuffs, reflecting the artistic tensions of the punk era in which he was a key figure.
Robb concluded his emotional tribute by mentioning Morris’s ups and downs before his move to Ireland in 1993, saying, “Kenny, it was a joy to know you, and we will miss your delightful quirks, your lengthy messages, your art, and your gentle spirit in a harsh world.”
Born on February 1, 1957, in Essex, England, Morris studied art and filmmaking at the Northeast London Institute of Technology. He briefly played in Sid Vicious’s early band, Flowers of Romance, in late 1976.
But it was in 1977 that he became the original drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees. Siouxsie Sioux and Stephen Severin established the band in London after performing with the Sex Pistols in September 1976.
Morris had shared his youthful dream of being in a rock band, reflecting on how appealing the lifestyle was to him back then. He recalled auditioning for Siouxsie and the Banshees, where he initially had a bit of a rocky start with the band’s manager, but by the end of the audition, he had learned eight songs.
After officially joining, Morris contributed to the band’s first two albums, “The Scream” in 1978 and “Join Hands” in 1979.
However, in September 1979, he and guitarist John McKay left the band following a dispute during a record signing. This exit happened during a busy promotional tour for “Join Hands,” leading to new members being brought in.
Post-departure, the band shifted from a post-punk sound to new wave. Reports suggest that Morris sought other drumming opportunities before returning to film school.
Before his passing, he was said to have resumed drumming with a Dublin-based goth band called Shrine of the Vampires. Additionally, he was reportedly working on a memoir, which is expected to be published later this year.
The newspaper has reached out to representatives for comment.
