Siouxsie and the Banshees have always had great drummers and in this tribute sent to LTW by the band’s second great full time drummer Budgie he pays his respects to the late and great Kenny Morris.
Kenny Morris 1957 – 2026
A creative, innovative musician with impeccable style.
Kenny and I were born in the same year, we both grew up with The Beatles, both went to art college and both dreamed of playing in a band. I listened to John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell and many other drummers, long before I ever hit a drum. On tour with The Slits, I listened and watched Nick ’Topper’ Headon playing live with The Clash every night – absorbing his dynamic drumming within the band’s arrangements. I had also watched and heard Kenny Morris live with Siouxsie and The Banshees and had witnessed his unique choreographic style of ‘drumming as performance’. Kenny drummed an unusual amalgamation of the Velvet Underground’s Maureen Tucker, and Alice Cooper’s Neal Smith. When asked if I would replace Kenny on the Join Hands tour; from which he and guitarist John McKay had gone awol, I was stunned – but time was short and preparation was intense. Justten days in which to listen, analyse and replicate Kenny’s patterns. With just two studio albums, faithful fans knew all the lyrics and the music – especially the drum parts which often took a crucial lead in the arrangements. Songs like Switch, Regal Zone, Playground Twist and Metal Postcard would have sounded very different with a more traditional, rudimentary approach to the drums. Many months after leaving, long after the tour-incident-dust had settled, Kenny would drop by my flat for tea, leave long messages on the answerphone and was as sartorially elegant as ever when we last met in Dublin in1999. He was a gentle, gentleman. Kenny Morris, expanded my drumming palette and on September 7, 1979, unwittingly changed the course of both our lives.
Good Night Kenny, and May Your God go with You.
Budgie, Berlin, January, 2026
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief
