One of The Dudes

Singer/songwriter Ian Morris, the frontman of Th’ Dudes has died in Napier, aged 53. Morris formed the band with school friends Peter Urlich and Dave Dobbyn in 1975 but left the group in 1980 and pursued a solo career under the name Tex Pistol. A duet, ‘Nobody Else’, with his brother Rikki topped the charts in New Zealand in 1988. Th’ Dudes reformed for a tour in 2006. Morris was also a successful producer and record engineer throughout his career. Th’ Dudes band member Peter Urlich has paid tribute Morris. “At this moment I’m waiting to wake from a terrible dream,” Urlich said. “I have just lost my oldest and dearest friend, Ian Morris. The cruel fact is that only in these moments, do you truly realise how important a mate like that is. If I were a house, one side of me has just collapsed. Ian was one of the foundations of me.” Th’ Dudes began rehearsing in the summer of 1975 and went on to have national and international success. Morris had a hand in penning many of the band’s hits, including ‘Walking in Light’, ‘Right First Time’ and the party favourite ‘Bliss’. He was married to When the Cat’s Away singer Kim Willoughby.

Ian Morris: 22 January 1957 – 7 October 2010