Beloved Drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kenny Morris, Leaves a Lasting Legacy at 68
In a shocking move that has left fans reeling, news of the passing of Kenny Morris, the original drummer for the iconic post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, was announced this week. The legendary musician, who was just 68 years old, leaves behind a legacy of artistic expression and musical innovation that continues to inspire new generations.
According to longtime friend and music journalist John Robb, Morris was more than just a talented drummer – he was a kindred spirit with a unique sense of style and an infectious passion for life. "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," Robb wrote in a heartfelt tribute to Morris, who he described as "sweet, articulate, artistic and fascinating company." This was just one aspect of Morris's eccentric charm, which set him apart from his contemporaries.
Born in Essex, England, in 1957 to Irish parents, Morris had a rich cultural background that would influence his art and music. He studied fine art and filmmaking at North East London Polytechnic and Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts before briefly joining the Flowers of Romance with friend Sid Vicious in 1976.
Morris's most enduring legacy, however, is as the original drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees, a band that defined the post-punk era with their bold sound and uncompromising attitude. He joined the group in 1977, just a year after vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin formed the band in London. During his time with the Banshees, Morris recorded two albums – The Scream (1978) and Join Hands (1979) – and played on their debut single "Hong Kong Garden," which reached No. 7 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
Morris's departure from the group in 1979 was marked by controversy, with reports of an argument during a record signing that led to his abrupt exit. However, despite this tumultuous chapter in his life, Morris continued to drum and pursue other creative passions, including directing short films and painting.
In recent years, Morris had returned to music, performing with the post-punk goth band Shrine of the Vampyre and reportedly completing a memoir scheduled for publication later this year. His untimely passing has left a gaping hole in the world of music, but his legacy will undoubtedly live on through his timeless music and artistic vision.
As Robb's tribute so eloquently puts it: "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."
In a shocking move that has left fans reeling, news of the passing of Kenny Morris, the original drummer for the iconic post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, was announced this week. The legendary musician, who was just 68 years old, leaves behind a legacy of artistic expression and musical innovation that continues to inspire new generations.
According to longtime friend and music journalist John Robb, Morris was more than just a talented drummer – he was a kindred spirit with a unique sense of style and an infectious passion for life. "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," Robb wrote in a heartfelt tribute to Morris, who he described as "sweet, articulate, artistic and fascinating company." This was just one aspect of Morris's eccentric charm, which set him apart from his contemporaries.
Born in Essex, England, in 1957 to Irish parents, Morris had a rich cultural background that would influence his art and music. He studied fine art and filmmaking at North East London Polytechnic and Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts before briefly joining the Flowers of Romance with friend Sid Vicious in 1976.
Morris's most enduring legacy, however, is as the original drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees, a band that defined the post-punk era with their bold sound and uncompromising attitude. He joined the group in 1977, just a year after vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin formed the band in London. During his time with the Banshees, Morris recorded two albums – The Scream (1978) and Join Hands (1979) – and played on their debut single "Hong Kong Garden," which reached No. 7 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
Morris's departure from the group in 1979 was marked by controversy, with reports of an argument during a record signing that led to his abrupt exit. However, despite this tumultuous chapter in his life, Morris continued to drum and pursue other creative passions, including directing short films and painting.
In recent years, Morris had returned to music, performing with the post-punk goth band Shrine of the Vampyre and reportedly completing a memoir scheduled for publication later this year. His untimely passing has left a gaping hole in the world of music, but his legacy will undoubtedly live on through his timeless music and artistic vision.
As Robb's tribute so eloquently puts it: "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."
I'm not gonna lie, Siouxsie and the Banshees are an iconic band, but all this fuss about Kenny Morris leaving us is kinda sad. He was only drumming for them for like, two years? 
And from what I've seen of his style, he's always been a bit of a weirdo – I mean that in the best way possible, obvi 
. It's not every day you see someone rocking handcuffs and suits at once. Anyway, I guess it's great to know he left behind some amazing art and music, but can we take a step back from all this nostalgia for a sec? 
There's so much more out there to obsess over... like have you seen the new smartwatch trends or whatever 
?
, I remember when Siouxsie and the Banshees first came out, it was like, totally groundbreaking, you know? 
Kenny Morris was definitely one of those guys who just brought that extra somethin' to the table. I mean, have you seen his style back in the day? It was like he raided a thrift store and put together this crazy awesome outfit, all leather and lace... 
that's still one of my faves to this day. I remember listening to it on my old boombox, blasting it in my room, trying to decipher the lyrics... man, those were the days! 
Now we've got all these new bands and artists, but they can't replicate the raw energy of Siouxsie and the Banshees back then.
, it's crazy to think he's gone... I mean, 68 might seem old, but come on, he was still drumming and making art till the end 
You can tell by John Robb's words that guy was just a total character... I'm gonna miss his style, his passion, his whole vibe 
his music lives on but it's just not the same without him 
. I'm kinda glad he left us too soon so we can cherish his memory more 
.
. I mean, can you believe he's 68?! 
That just doesn't feel right. He was already making waves back in the '70s with Siouxsie and the Banshees, but what really caught my attention was his style – who else could rock both suits and dresses with open handcuffs? 
Anyway, I'm not gonna lie, I had no idea about him leaving the group in '79 due to some drama at a record signing. That's wild. But you know, it's all good that he got back into music lately, doing his own thing with Shrine of the Vampyre and even working on a memoir 
. Can't wait to check out that book. So sad he's gone, but we'll be feeling his legacy for years to come 
anywyay, 1st time i heard about shrine of the vampyre - gotta check dem out now 
. Born in Essex, England, to Irish parents, Morris's cultural background was a significant influence on his art and music.
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. It's heartbreaking that his untimely passing has left a gaping hole in the music world, but his legacy will undoubtedly live on through his timeless music and artistic vision 
.
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. I mean, the guy was only 68, but his impact on music is still huge. It's crazy to think about how influential Siouxsie and the Banshees were back in the day 
️. Their sound was like nothing else out there, you know? And Morris was a key part of that. He brought this whole other level of energy and creativity to the table 
. He was all about pushing boundaries and taking risks, which is something we could all learn from. And his friendship with John Robb sounds like it was really special