Ian Morris from New Zealand rock band Th’ Dudes has been found dead in Napier, New Zealand at the age of 53.
Th’ Dudes also featured Dave Dobbyn who went on as a solo artist to had a number one hit with ‘Slice of Heaven’.
Morris formed Th’ Dudes in 1975with Dobbyn, Peter Urlich and Peter Coleman, his fellow students at Sacred Heart College, Auckland, the same school Neil Finn attended. They were influenced by the songs of British rock and modelled themselves on The Stones, the Beatles and David Bowie.
In 1979 they were named New Zealand Group of the Year. They disbanded in the mid 80s but reformed in 2006.
Morris also produced Dobbyn’s post-Th’ Dudes band DD Smash.
Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
