Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop has died aged 73 after struggling with poor health, sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The percussionist, a member of the Scottish band for a year from 1981, had been ill for some time prior to his passing. A cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Born in Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde in 1951, Hyslop worked in the music industry across the United Kingdom and Canada for much of his life after starting out as a drummer in the early 1970s.
Learning of his friend’s death on Tuesday afternoon, Midge Ure, who played with Hyslop in glam rock group Slik, sent his best wishes to the musician’s family.
‘Just about to board the British Airways flight from JFK and heard my old friend/Slik/Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop has passed way,’ he told followers on X, formerly Twitter.
Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop has died aged 73 after struggling with poor health, sources confirmed on Tuesday
‘He lived a lively life! Huge condolences to his friends and family. He was much loved.’
Hyslop began his career in 1972 after replacing Matt Cairns as the drummer of glam-rock band Salvation.
Two-years later they were renamed Slik following a line-up change that resulted in Ure becoming lead vocalist, and success would soon follow when they scored a UK number one single with Forever And Ever in 1975.
It would prove to be their biggest hit, with the group disbanding in 1977 after another name change – PVC2 – and a short-lived foray into punk.
Ure enjoyed global success with Ultravox after parting ways with PVC2, while Hyslop would play with new wave bands Zones and The Skids prior to joining Simple Minds.
Replacing original drummer Brian McGee in 1981, Hyslop stayed with the band for a year, during which he performed on the first leg of the Sons and Fascination Tour.
His work features on hit Simple Minds song Promised You A Miracle and he appeared in the promotional videos for Sweat in Bullet and Love Song, but did not contribute to either song’s production.
He left in early 1982 due to artistic differences with the rest of the band and was replaced for the second leg of the tour by former Café Jacques drummer Mike Ogletree,
Paying tribute in a social media post on Tuesday afternoon, former Ultravox star Ure, who performed with Hyslop in glam rock group Slik, sent his best wishes to the musician’s family
Hyslop enjoyed success with glam rock band Slik (pictured) in the 1970s after scoring a UK number one with single Forever And Ever
Reflecting on his friendship with Hyland during those early years, Ure compared the musician to Ultravox bass guitarist Chris Cross, with whom he co-wrote the band’s iconic single Vienna
The drummer went on to form short-lived electronic group Set The Tone before reuniting with former band-mate Ure in 1985 for his The Gift World Tour.
Reflecting on his friendship with Hyland during those early years, Ure compared the musician to legendary Ultravox bass guitarist Chris Cross, with whom he co-wrote the band’s iconic single Vienna in 1981.
He wrote: ‘Kenny was the ‘Chris’ of Slik. We were joined at the hip in those very early years. Instantly bonding over our mutual love of ‘button down pocket’ cowboy shirts! It’s the small thing which enables great friendships to grow…’
Paying tribute on Tuesday, fans flooded their own social media platforms with memories of Hyslop, whose later years were spent teaching percussion at Glasgow’s Carlton Studios and producing music on Myspace.
‘So sad, chatted to Kenny quite a bit online in the last few years met him over 40 years ago. One hell of a drummer! Fly straight Kenny,’ wrote one.
Born in Helensburgh in 1951, Hyslop worked in the music industry across the United Kingdom and Canada for much of his life after starting out as a drummer in the 1970s
Slik disbanded in 1977 after another name change – PVC2 – and a short-lived foray into punk
A second added: ‘It doesn’t seem fair, it only seemed that a month or so ago, I messaged him and he told me that his treatment was going well.’
Elsewhere a third wrote: ‘I was in touch with Kenny over Facebook. Always quick witted replies. It was Kenny’s photos I took to the hairdressers back then and not forgetting that matchstick.’
While a fourth posted: ‘Nooooooooo!!!! Not another death, I can’t handle it this week! This is really sad, I was just talking about him a couple of weeks back. Superb drummer.’
Another commented: “I’m deeply saddened to hear news of Kenny’s death. He was a great drummer, huge talent and such a lovely person. Well respected by many and will be sadly missed.’
Responding to Ure, a sixth wrote: ‘Dear Midge, my thoughts are with you and Kenny’s family and friends. May Kenny rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.’