The legendary KISS rocker Gene Simmons was rushed to the hospital this week after being in a major car crash in Malibu, California.
Simmons’ Car Crash
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told NBC that the crash occurred just before 1pm on Tuesday on Pacific Coast Highway. A witness called 911, and both police and firefighters rushed to the scene.
Simmons, 76, told deputies that he either passed out or fainted before crashing into a parked car. He was then rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.
Simmons’ wife Shannon Tweed, 68, has since spoken out to say that the rocker is recovering at home. She told TMZ that her husband “hates to drink water and was put on a new medication recently and was dehydrated, which is what caused him to pass out.”
When asked how the crash happened, Tweed said that Simmons’ SUV careened across several lanes of traffic, and that her husband passed out.
A rep for Simmons told People Magazine that the rocker “is fine and back to work already.”
Simmons himself has since taken to social media to claim that he’s “completely fine.”
“Thanks, everybody, for the kind wishes. I’m completely fine,” Simmons wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “I had a slight fender bender. It happens. Especially to those of us were horrible drivers. And that’s me. All is well.”
KISS Reunion
This comes as KISS is preparing to perform for the first time since retiring from touring in 2023. Indeed, the singers will be reuniting in Las Vegas next month for the KISS Army Storms Vegas event. This is being held to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a band.
The event is being held from November 14-16. It will feature an “unmasked” Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and other special guests. An official press release has stated that there will be “exclusive Q&A sessions with members of the band, a panel with longtime manager Doc McGhee, a special live performance from former KISS member Bruce Kulick, along with sets from KISS tribute bands, other special guests, interactive activities, exclusive experiences and more.”
KISS is also about to be recognized at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. Other honorees this year include George Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor and Sylvester Stallone.
“From our earliest days, KISS has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off,” Simmons’ bandmate Paul Stanley told TMZ after this was announced. “The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors cannot be overstated and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of KISS and all of the band members who helped create our iconic band.”
Simmons Sounds Off
Earlier this year, Simmons made headlines when he gave an interview in which he admitted that he loves being wealthy. He said this as he defended selling a $12,000+ package for a personal assistant to work for him during his upcoming tour.
“All I ever did was try to figure out how to become powerful and make lots of money, for survival. The only thing money ever does, really, is give you the freedom to do stuff you actually like doing,” Simmons told Ultimate Classic Rock. “It’s better to be rich than poor, it really is. And if you’re a miserable [expletive] it’s still better to be a rich, miserable [expletive]. That’s all I ever tried to do.”
We’re so glad to see that Simmons appears to be doing well after this terrifying car crash. Please join us in saying a prayer for Gene Simmons!