Siouxsie and the Banshees Drummer Kenny Morris Dead at 68
Kenny Morris, the original drummer for the influential British punk and post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, has died at the age of 68, it was announced on January 15, 2026. The news was confirmed by his longtime friend and music journalist John Robb in a heartfelt tribute marking the passing of a defining figure in the early UK punk scene.
Morris, born Kenneth Ian Morris on February 1, 1957, in Essex, England, rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees. He joined the band in early 1977 after seeing them perform live in London and quickly became a key part of their rhythm section. Known for his distinctive drumming style — heavy on tom-toms and spare on cymbals — he helped shape the band’s early sound as they bridged punk’s raw energy with the moody textures that would come to define post-punk.
During his time with the band, Morris recorded their breakthrough debut single “Hong Kong Garden,” which reached the UK Top 10, and played on the group’s first two critically acclaimed albums, The Scream (1978) and Join Hands (1979). His experimental approach to rhythm and percussion — at times likened to a human drum machine — influenced many later musicians in the genre and beyond.
Despite his artistic contributions, Morris’s tenure with Siouxsie and the Banshees was relatively brief. He left the band in September 1979 during the Join Hands tour amid internal tensions, departing alongside guitarist John McKay. The band went on to evolve their sound with new members, while Morris embarked on a more varied creative path.
After leaving Siouxsie and the Banshees, Morris explored a range of artistic pursuits. He studied filmmaking and fine art, later becoming active as a painter and visual artist. In 1993 he moved to Ireland, settling in Cork before later relocating to Dublin, where his artworks were exhibited and celebrated. In recent years, he even returned to performing, drumming with the Dublin-based post-punk band Shrine Of The Vampyre.
At the time of his passing, Morris had completed a memoir titled A Banshee Left Waiting, scheduled for release in 2026 — a project that reflected his multifaceted life as both musician and artist.
Robb’s tribute honoured Morris’s creative spirit and singular personality, describing him as “sweet, articulate, artistic and fascinating company,” and highlighting his “beautiful eccentricity” that endeared him to friends and peers alike.
Details surrounding Morris’s death — including the exact date and cause — have not yet been publicly disclosed.
A Legacy in Rhythm
Kenny Morris’s legacy goes beyond his early punk roots. As a drummer who helped propel a fledgling band into musical history, and as an artist who continued to innovate throughout his life, his impact on the post-punk movement remains profound. His work continues to be cited by subsequent generations of musicians who draw inspiration from his minimalist yet powerful approach to rhythm and sound.
Fans, fellow musicians, and cultural commentators continue to pay tribute to Morris’s enduring influence on music and art following the news of his death — a fitting testament to the life of a true creative force.
