Tributes have been paid to early Siouxsie And The Banshees drummer, Kenny Morris, who has died aged 68.
Morris was the sticksman for the iconic post-punk band during their formative years. News of his passing was confirmed yesterday (Thursday January 15) by various outlets, including Louder Than War.
That publication is run by journalist John Robb, who was also a friend of Morris.
“Kenny was a friend of ours, and it was always a pleasure to see and hang out with him when visiting Cork in Ireland, where he had been living,” Robb wrote. “He was sweet, articulate, artistic and fascinating company and his beautiful eccentricity was adorable.
“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, whilst still dressing in the artful confrontation of the 1976 punk era that he was such a key part of.”
As highlighted by Consequence, the very first drummer to join Siouxsie and the Banshees was Sid Vicious, who played one show with them in the mid-‘70s before joining Sex Pistols.
In terms of recorded music, it was Morris who paved the way for the band, playing on their first two albums: 1978’s ‘The Scream’ and 1979’s ‘Join Hands’. He joined initially in 1977, and left the group alongside guitarist John McKay in late 1979 following a disagreement.
As well as John Robb, other tributes have come in across social media, including from renowned publicist, Murray Chalmers.
“Kenny was so amazing. Play their debut album ‘The Scream’ today and it pins you to the wall, just as it did in 1978. ‘The Scream’ is my favourite album of all time and ‘Jigsaw Feeling’ my favourite song of all time,” he wrote on Instagram, sharing a portrait of the group and describing it as his “favourite band shot ever”.
“That’s a lot of favourites for one group. I followed early Banshees around like a teenage groupie, except I didn’t want to sleep with them – I wanted to be them. They changed my life as much as Bowie had done a few years earlier,” he added. “At the peak of their powers no one could beat the Banshees, and Kenny was a vital part of that intensity, tension and power. What a drummer!”
Writer Jon Savage paid tribute on X/Twitter and said: “RIP Kenny Morris: original punk, Banshee drummer extraordinaire. I knew him well in the Banshees and was in touch with him recently about his memoir. Which I hope will be published. God bless you Kenny.”
RIP Kenny Morris: original punk, Banshee drummer extraordinaire. I knew him well in the Banshees and was in touch with him recently about his memoir. Which I hope will be published. God bless you Kenny pic.twitter.com/Z9UeNENLoL
— Jon Savage (@JonSavage1966) January 15, 2026
Biographer Mark Paytress shared: “Farewell, sweet Kenny Morris. His clockwork, Glitter Band-influenced playing on the first two Banshees albums set the standard for post-punk drumming. Spent a few late nights w/ him on the phone while working on the Banshees biog. A kind, delicate, cool and talented soul.”
A fan added: “Rest in Punk Kenny Morris – drummer, artist, lovely human”. Check out more tributes below.
Farewell, sweet Kenny Morris (far left). His clockwork, Glitter Band-influenced playing on the first 2 Banshees albums set the standard for post-punk drumming. Spent a few late nights w/ him on the phone while working on the Banshees biog. A kind, delicate, cool & talented soul. pic.twitter.com/L5RkjCjqVa
— Mark Paytress🌿 (@Paytress) January 15, 2026
Rest in Punk Kenny Morris – drummer, artist, lovely human
❤️🧷❤️ pic.twitter.com/eYXqgrbVOB— ANgiE tAYLoR 🧷 🧷 🧷 (@theAngieTaylor) January 15, 2026
💔 Such sad news. Former Siouxsie and The Banshees drummer, Kenny Morris, has passed away at the age of 68. He was the backbone of the sound and style of the classic line-up of SATB. Our blessed thoughts with his family, loved ones and friends 🧡 https://t.co/35aA3DuhKT pic.twitter.com/FT2POiaHng
— 🎶Paul Lewis – Wycombe Gigs (@wycombegigs) January 15, 2026
I just read in the news that Kenny Morris has passed away at the age of 68.😢🥁We will miss you very much.
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Metal , live Oct. 1977 pic.twitter.com/C3i4YtQJnb— Schnitzel (@Schnitzel63) January 15, 2026
I thought at the time that our best song was “Love In A Void” and that it should be the first single, but our manager decided on “Hong Kong Garden” because the very first few seconds that you hear on the radio or driving in a car, you’re hooked straight away.
Kenny Morris RIP 🖤 pic.twitter.com/Qto0kEoMpV— Nik D (@nikidoog) January 15, 2026
Rest in peace Kenny Morris, Siouxsie And The Banshees’ founding drummer pic.twitter.com/KR8nVHz5BE
— goth music videos (@goth_videos) January 15, 2026
After leaving Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1979, Morris went on to work with other artists as a drummer, also joining forces with singer Helen Terry. He also turned his sights to directing and worked on a number of short films over the years.
During the ‘90s, he relocated to Ireland and ran an art gallery. He also worked as an art teacher, according to Consequence, and had been working on a memoir in more recent years. It was slated to be released in 2026, although no details have been shared about the book following his death.
At the time of writing, no information has been publicly shared about his cause of death.
It was The Slits’ drummer Budgie, who took on the role of drummer in Siouxsie and the Banshees after Morris’ departure, and stayed with the group until 1996.
