Member of Iconic Punk Band Dies at 68, Leaving Major Music Legacy - Tributes Pour In
The drummer for a legendary post-punk band with punk roots who grew to international fame during the 1980s has died at the age of 68. Regarded as highly influential on a long list of respected artists, the musician's achievements in the music industry are now being celebrated after his passing.
'Siouxsie and the Banshees' Drummer Kenny Morris Dies at 68
On January 16th, 2026, the New York Post reported that the drummer for "Siouxsie and the Banshees," Kenny Morris, had died at 68 years old. No cause of death has been revealed. An article about Morris that Stereogum published after his death revealed the musician was born on February 1, 1957, in the Essex area of London, England, where his Irish parents raised him. Despite his passing, fans will soon get an opportunity to learn more about Morris in the coming months as he wrote a memoir titled "A Banshee Left Wailing," which is scheduled to be released in 2026.
During a January 2023 Tripe + Drisheen Substack interview, Morris spoke about what drove him to become a musician. “I thought I definitely wanted to be in a rock ’n’ roll band when I grew up. Everything about the lifestyle, even at that age, appealed to me.” After joining the future "Sex Pistols" bassist Sid Vicious's band, "Flowers of Romance", in 1976, he quickly moved on to join "Siouxsie and the Banshees" in 1977.
In February 2023, Days of Punk named "Siouxsie and the Banshees" as one of the "five most iconic bands that defined Post-Punk. Often considered to be originators of that genre that they are most associated with, the band's music helped shape the work of many artists that came after them. Pioneers of post-punk, the band stood out with early hits like "Hong Kong Garden," "Happy House," and "Christine."
The Music World Has Been Paying Tribute to Kenny Morris
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
The New York Post's coverage quoted a music journalist named John Robb's description of his friendship with the drummer.
“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. He was sweet, articulate, artistic, and fascinating company, and his beautiful eccentricity was adorable." Robb continued, "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. 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."
Another music journalist named Jon Savage wrote on X describing Morris as an "original punk " and expressed his desire to see the drummer's memoir published. "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
Fans have also been joining in on the social media discourse about Morris. One example of that came from the user @eyup_io, who wrote about how talented the musician was. "???? Sad News for Punk Lovers: Kenny Morris, 68, Passes Away ???? Ah, what a loss for the music world! Kenny Morris was an absolute legend, a true pioneer of the punk scene with Siouxsie And The Banshees. The drummer might’ve left the limelight behind, but his beat will echo in our hearts forever. One more reason to crank up "The Scream" and raise a pint in his honour!"
Our thoughts are with Kenny Morris' family, friends, and fans.