Kenny Morris, the original drummer for the post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, has died at the age of 68. News of his passing was shared by music journalist John Robb, who described Morris as a sweet and eccentric friend. Details on the date and cause of death were not immediately available.
Kenny Morris, born in 1957 in Essex, England, to Irish parents, passed away recently, with the announcement made on January 15, 2026, by John Robb in Louder Than War. Morris had been living in Cork, Ireland, since 1993. Robb's tribute highlighted Morris's unique personality: “He was sweet, articulate, artistic and fascinating company and his beautiful eccentricity was adorable.” He recalled Morris's eclectic style, often blending suits with dresses and punk-era elements, and noted his ups and downs before relocating to Ireland.
Morris's musical journey began in 1976 when he briefly joined his friend Sid Vicious’s band, the Flowers of Romance. He first saw Siouxsie and the Banshees perform in September 1976, with Vicious on drums. The band, formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin, recruited Morris as their original drummer in 1977. Recalling his audition in a 2023 interview with Tripe + Drisheen, Morris said: “When I turned up for the audition, there was some drum kit there, and I was fiddling around trying to figure out how to even set the thing up when Nils Stevenson, the Banshees manager, came up to me: ‘You’re supposed to be a f—king drummer, aren’t ya?’ I took an instant dislike to him. But by the end of the audition, we had eight songs.”
During his tenure, Morris contributed to the band's debut single “Hong Kong Garden,” which peaked at No. 7 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, and albums The Scream (1978) and Join Hands (1979). He left abruptly in 1979 during a tour supporting Join Hands, following an argument at a record signing; guitarist John McKay departed simultaneously. They were replaced by drummer Peter “Budgie” Clarke of the Slits and guitarist Robert Smith of the Cure.
Post-Banshees, Morris pursued drumming, directed short films, and engaged in painting and drawing. At the time of his death, he was performing with the post-punk goth band Shrine of the Vampyre and had completed a memoir set for publication later in 2026, according to the New York Post. Robb concluded his tribute: “It was great to know you, Kenny and we will miss your sweet eccentricity and long WhatsApp messages and your art and your gentle presence in a cruel world.”
