Kiss legend Gene Simmons, 76, crashes car and is hospitalised after 'passing out behind the wheel'

Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is in hospital after 'passing out behind the wheel'

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PA

Sophie Little

By Sophie Little


Published: 08/10/2025

- 23:13

Updated: 09/10/2025

- 00:44

The rocker's car was seen veering across lanes of traffic before it crashed into a parked vehicle

Kiss legend Gene Simmons has been hospitalised after "passing out behind the wheel" and crashing his SUV into a parked car in Malibu, California.

The rocker is said to have been driving along the Pacific Coast Highway when his Lincoln Navigator was seen veering across several lanes.


The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed the 76-year-old had lost consciousness before the accident.

But in a voicemail sent to local outlet NBC4, Mr Simmons then said: "I am doing fine."

Shannon Tweed, the bassist's wife, said he is now at home recovering.

Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed

Shannon Tweed has confirmed her husband is now recovering at home

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GETTY

She revealed that Mr Simmons had recently been put on different medication and needs to drink more water - something she joked he is not very good at, according to NBC4.

In 2023, Kiss was forced to pause a concert in Manaus, Brazil after he fell ill with dehydration.

Following the incident, Mr Simmons said online: "Hey everybody, thanks for the good wishes. I'm fine. Yesterday at Manaus Stadium in Brazil, experienced weakness because of dehydration.

"We stopped for about five minutes, I drank some water, and then all was well. Nothing serious."

Kiss

PICTURED: Kiss performing the final show of the End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden

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The musician also suffers from a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation (AFib) which leads to an irregular, often fast, and inefficient heart rate.

He has previously revealed that he treats this with rest and liquids.

Discussing the condition on The Doctors in 2016, he said: "I had never heard of the term AFib, but about 10 years ago, we were on tour someplace, and onstage the temperature goes up about 100F (37C) with all the stage lights.

"I started to get dizzy and perspire and short of breath. So I called a doctor, and he showed up and said, 'Okay, here's what's going on. There's something called AFib,' and he went down the list, and it was a lot to take in."

Gene Simmons

The musician has previously revealed that he suffers from atrial fibrillation

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GETTY

Mr Simmons co-founded Kiss in New York City alongside Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer also played in the band at various points.

He played bass and co-led vocals for the band from its foundation in 1973 until two years ago when the band retired.

Since finishing Kiss' End of the Road World Tour, Mr Simmons has been touring with his Gene Simmons Band - with its most recent show coming on August 3 this year in Sturgis, South Dakota.

He is also scheduled to play an "unmasked" performance with former Kiss bandmates Mr Stanley and Mr Thayer next month in Las Vegas for Kiss Kruise.

Last year, the hard rock band sold its back-catalogue of music to a Swedish investor for an amount thought to be more than $300million (£237million).

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