The tragic death of KISS guitar tech Francis Stueber from COVID-19 has led to legal action against the band members, their manager, and others involved in their tour. The family alleges lax safety policies and a failure to provide proper medical care contributed to his death.
In recent news, KISS rockers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are facing a lawsuit after their guitar tech, Francis Stueber, passed away from COVID-19. Stueber contracted the virus while on tour with the band in October 2021 and died just a few days later. The family of the guitar tech is taking legal action against Simmons, Stanley, their manager Doc McGhee, Marriott hotels, and Live Nation.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, Stueber’s loved ones claim that Paul Stanley was the first to contract COVID-19, and it then spread due to lax safety policies on the tour. Anyone who fell ill with the virus was allegedly simply told to quarantine in a hotel room in whichever city the band was in, with few other instructions given. Stueber contracted COVID-19 in Detroit and was instructed to stay in his hotel. However, the family alleges that KISS’ manager, Doc McGhee, failed to arrange for medical personnel to visit and examine Stueber, despite promising to do so. Instead, McGhee asked another person on the tour to check on Stueber at the hotel, but unfortunately, Stueber was already deceased when that person arrived, just two days after testing positive for the virus.
The family is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and is taking legal action against Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Doc McGhee, Marriott hotels, and Live Nation. This tragic incident highlights the importance of taking COVID-19 safety measures seriously, especially in high-risk environments like concert tours. It also raises questions about the responsibility of tour managers and organizers in ensuring the health and well-being of their crew members.
In December 2021, Paul Stanley revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time, despite being fully vaccinated. He shared on Instagram that he and his family had contracted the Omicron variant of the virus, with most of them experiencing no symptoms or only mild ones. This revelation came after KISS had already been forced to cancel shows earlier in the year when Paul Stanley initially contracted the virus during the summer. At the time, the band stated that they had been following COVID-19 safety protocols, with everyone on the tour, including both band and crew, being fully vaccinated. They also had a COVID safety protocol officer on staff full-time to ensure compliance with CDC guidelines.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how this case will impact the entertainment industry’s approach to COVID-19 safety measures. Concert tours and live events have faced numerous challenges during the pandemic, and it is crucial for all involved to prioritize the health and safety of their crew members and attendees. The outcome of this lawsuit may serve as a wake-up call for the industry to reevaluate and strengthen their safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
