- Francis Stueber, who worked in the band as a guitar technician for about 20 years, passed away on October 17, 2021.
- He contracted the virus while on tour with Kiss and died two days later
- He left behind a wife and three sons
KISS legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are facing a lawsuit in connection with the death of one of their longtime employees from COVID-19.
Francis Stuber, who worked for the band as a guitar technician for about 20 years, died on October 17, 2021, two days after contracting the virus while on tour with Kiss.
Stueber’s family claims Stanley first contracted the virus in August 2021 and then spread it among various tour staff, according to legal documents obtained TMZ.
They blame the spread of the virus within the band and its workers on the lax security policy on the tour.
The Stueber family further claimed that Kiss’ policy for any of its employees who contracted COVID-19 was to quarantine in a hotel room in whatever city the band was in at the time, and nothing else.
Slapped in suit: Kiss co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley named in lawsuit filed by family of late longtime guitar tech Francis Stuber
Stueber tested positive for the virus while the band was in Detroit, and as part of their protocol was given a room at the local Sheraton Hotel.
In the lawsuit, prosecutors allege that longtime Kiss manager Doc McGhee failed to arrange for medical staff to visit and examine him at the hotel in a timely manner, as promised.
They then accused McGhee of asking another tour member to check on the guitar technician, who had already died when that person arrived two days later.
Along with Stanley, Simmons also reportedly contracted the coronavirus while on tour with Kiss, TMZ reported.
Upon learning of his death, the band’s lead singer and guitarist took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his condolences.
“My dear friend, comrade and guitarist of 20 years, Fran Stueber died suddenly yesterday of Covid,” he wrote. ‘Both on stage and off, I depended on him so much.’
Stanley concluded, “My family loved him as much as I did. He was as proud of his wife and three boys as they were of him. I’m numb.’
Simmons, Stanley, McGhee, Marriott Hotels and Live Nation are all named in the lawsuit as liable for damages.
Heartbreaking: After learning of Stueber’s death, Stanley took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his condolences
On their way out: Kiss have been on what they claim is their final tour before disbanding, which they believe will likely end with their last show sometime in 2024.
At this time, none of the defendants or their representatives have responded to the complaints in the lawsuit.
Known for their face paint and stage costumes, Kiss rose to fame in the mid-1970s with shock rock-style live shows that included fire-breathing, blood-spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drums and pyrotechnics.
They would go on to sell more than 75 million albums on their way to becoming one of the best-selling and most influential music artists of all time.
The band went on what they claim is their final tour before disbanding, which they believe will likely end with a final show sometime in 2024.