Rock legend Gene Simmons, known for his fiery stage presence with KISS, recently had a roadside scare in Malibu. The 75-year-old musician was involved in a car accident on Tuesday, October 7, just before 1 p.m., as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
Details from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department suggest Simmons’ SUV hit a parked car in the 25000 block of Pacific Coast Highway. A witness quickly called 911. When emergency crews arrived, Simmons told them he might have fainted or lost consciousness before the collision. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the accident to a news outlet but did not name the driver at the time.
Simmons was taken to the hospital. Thankfully, his wife, Shannon Tweed, gave NBC4 Investigates an update. She confirmed that the rock star was discharged and is now recovering comfortably at home. Tweed, who has been married to Simmons since 2011, shed more light on the incident. She explained that doctors had recently changed Simmons’ medication. She also stressed the need for him to drink more water. Tweed added that his SUV crossed several lanes of traffic during the accident, and she echoed her husband’s account that he passed out behind the wheel.
This isn’t Simmons’ first encounter with health challenges. He has openly discussed his heart condition, Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). Back in March 2016, during an episode of The Doctors, he shared his experience. About ten years prior, while on tour, he felt dizzy, sweaty, and short of breath on stage due to the intense heat from the lights. A doctor later diagnosed him with AFib, an irregular and often very fast heartbeat. This condition can raise the risk of stroke and other heart problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Simmons mentioned in 2016 that he had not had "recurrent problems" with his heart before because he made sure to get enough sleep and drink plenty of fluids. However, he admitted at the time, "But am I prone to atrial fibrillation? Of course." This history offers a possible explanation for his sudden loss of consciousness during the recent accident.
Life After KISS: Still Rocking
Even after KISS wrapped up their final tour in December 2023, Simmons could not stay away from music. He formed a new group, the Gene Simmons Band, with Brent Woods, Zach Throne, and Brian Tichy. It seems the call of the stage was too strong.
“I tried to stay off stages, but it’s too much fun,” Simmons told Ultimate Classic Rock in a March interview. He had planned to take a break after 50 years with KISS. Simmons also keeps busy with other ventures, including a restaurant chain and a film production company.
The Gene Simmons Band plays a mix of KISS favorites, some of Simmons’ solo tracks, and covers from legendary bands like Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. He described their relaxed approach to music to the outlet: "We start trading songs; if someone in the band says, ‘Hey, why don’t we do ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ [by Cream]?’ We look at each other and ask, ‘In what key?’ and off we go." Simmons enjoys bringing young musicians to the stage, summing up the experience simply as "just about having a good time." It seems even after a lifetime of rock and roll, and a recent health scare, Gene Simmons still loves to perform.