Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop dies at 73: Scottish star Midge Ure leads tributes to ‘much-loved’ percussionist who dies after struggling with ill health

Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop has died at the age of 73 due to health problems, sources confirmed Tuesday.

The percussionist, a member of the Scottish band since 1981, had been ill for some time before his death. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

Hyslop was born in Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde in 1951 and worked in the music industry for most of his life, starting out as a drummer in the early 1970s.

In a social media post on Tuesday afternoon, former Ultravox star Ure, who performed with Hyslop in the glam rock group Slik, paid tribute to the musician, sending his best wishes to the musician’s family.

“I was about to board the British Airways plane from JFK and heard that my old friend/Slik/Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop has passed away,” he told his followers on X, formerly Twitter.

Simple Minds drummer Kenny Hyslop has died at the age of 73 after battling ill health, sources confirmed Tuesday

The percussionist, a member of the Scottish band since 1981, had been ill for some time before he died. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed (L-R: Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil, Kenny Hyslop, Jim Kerr and Derek Forbes in 1981)

“He lived a vibrant life! Huge condolences to his friends and family. He was very loved.”

Hyslop began his career in 1972 after replacing Matt Cairns as drummer for the glam rock band Salvation.

Two years later they were renamed Slik, after a line-up change that saw Ure become lead singer. Success soon followed when they scored the UK number one hit with Forever And Ever in 1975.

It would become their biggest hit. The group split up after another name change – PVC2 – and a brief foray into punk.

Ure eventually left to join Ultravox, with whom he enjoyed worldwide success in the 1980s, while Hyslop played with new wave bands Zones and The Skids before joining Simple Minds.

Hyslop replaced original drummer Brian McGee in 1981 and remained with the band for a year before leaving to form the electronic group Set The Tone.

His work can be found on Simple Minds’ hit Promised You A Miracle and he appeared in the promotional videos for Sweat in Bullet and Love Song, but did not contribute to their production.