On a sun-drenched stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on October 7, 2025, Gene Simmons—the legendary bass guitarist and co-lead singer of KISS—found himself at the center of a health scare that quickly made headlines. According to Eyewitness News, Simmons, 76, crashed his black Lincoln Navigator into a parked car at the 25600 block of the iconic highway, prompting a swift response from Malibu/Lost Hills deputies and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The cause of the accident, as confirmed by authorities and reported by NBC4, was a medical emergency. Simmons told deputies he had passed out or fainted just before the collision. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment, but the ordeal, while alarming, was mercifully brief. By the following day, Simmons was well enough to post a reassuring message on X (formerly Twitter): "Thanks, everybody, for the kind wishes. I'm completely fine. I had a slight fender bender. It happens. Especially to those of us who are horrible drivers. And that's me. All is well."
Simmons’ wife, Shannon Tweed, added further context in comments to the press, explaining that her husband’s recent change in medical prescriptions may have played a role in the incident. She confirmed that while the rock icon was briefly hospitalized, he is now recuperating at home. The episode, though unsettling, seems to have left Simmons in good spirits—a testament, perhaps, to the resilience that’s carried him through five decades in the music business.
This wasn’t the only health challenge facing members of KISS this October. Ace Frehley, the band’s original lead guitarist, announced via Instagram on October 6 that he was canceling the remainder of his 2025 tour dates in October and November due to ongoing medical issues. The news landed as fans were gearing up for the highly anticipated KISS Kruise: Land-Locked In Vegas event, set to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary next month.
Paul Stanley, KISS’s rhythm guitarist and co-lead singer, offered insight into the band’s mindset ahead of the Vegas celebration. Speaking on the Artist Friendly with Joel Madden podcast in July, Stanley explained, "What we're doing in Vegas, because we're not touring, and because the band isn't what it was doesn't mean we've forgotten our fans. Our fans made us who we are and continue to keep us where we are." He described the upcoming event as a cruise without a ship, hosted at the Virgin Hotel, complete with performances, Q&As, and competitions—essentially everything fans have come to expect from the KISS Kruises, minus the open sea. Stanley recalled, "Gene and I felt a little at the beginning of this idea, that we weren't enough of a part of it and it seemed to be going away from the spirit of what we did. So, we jumped in and said, 'No, no. This needs to touch all of those emotional touchstones that everybody has come to love in the KISS Kruises.'"
The string of health scares among celebrities in 2025 has been notable, with Simmons’ incident just one in a series of high-profile medical emergencies and recoveries. From Nikki Garcia’s breast implant injury in a WWE match to Lupita Nyong’o’s recent disclosure of a decade-long struggle with uterine fibroids, the year has seen stars candidly share their health battles. Suki Waterhouse revealed her hospitalization for a hernia caused by tight pants, while Brian Austin Green recounted his emergency surgery for a perforated appendix. Savannah DeMelo, a soccer midfielder, collapsed mid-game from a medical emergency, but was stabilized after immediate care.
Some stories have been harrowing. Comedian Tracy Morgan suffered a health scare at a Knicks game, later attributing it to food poisoning. Christy Carlson Romano, the Even Stevens alum, was shot in the face by a clay pigeon fragment, narrowly avoiding serious eye injury. Amy Schumer, after online speculation about her appearance, discovered she had Cushing syndrome—an issue that resolved itself but only after considerable anxiety and public scrutiny. Meanwhile, AHL player Casey Fitzgerald endured a neck injury from a skate blade, and Hailey Bieber experienced a transient ischemic attack from a blood clot, leading to heart surgery and a full recovery.
Even the world’s most famous pop stars haven’t been immune. Justin Bieber battled Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 2022, leading to facial paralysis and canceled tour dates. His wife Hailey’s health scare occurred the same year, underscoring how even young, seemingly invincible celebrities can face sudden medical crises. Oscar winner Jamie Foxx revealed he suffered a brain bleed and stroke in 2023, requiring extensive rehabilitation. Each story, in its own way, has highlighted the vulnerability and humanity behind the celebrity façade.
For Simmons, the episode in Malibu was a reminder of just how quickly life can change. The incident came on the heels of a change in his medical prescriptions—a detail that, according to his wife, may have contributed to the fainting spell. While Simmons himself downplayed the severity of the crash, calling it a "slight fender bender" and poking fun at his own driving skills, the reality is that medical emergencies at the wheel can have serious consequences, regardless of fame or fortune.
In the broader context of KISS’s 50th anniversary, the health of its members has become a central concern for fans. With Frehley sidelined and Simmons recuperating, the upcoming Land-Locked In Vegas event takes on added significance. The band’s willingness to adapt—transforming a cruise into a hotel-based festival—speaks to their enduring commitment to their audience. As Stanley put it, "The fact that we don't have a ship this year and it wasn't available doesn't mean we can't have the same kind of time."
For the legions of KISS fans, the message is clear: the show will go on, even if the journey looks a little different. Simmons’ quick recovery and positive outlook, coupled with the band’s creative approach to their anniversary celebration, serve as reminders that resilience and adaptability are as much a part of rock and roll as the music itself.
As October draws to a close, all eyes will be on Las Vegas, where KISS—against the odds—will mark half a century of spectacle, sound, and camaraderie. For Simmons and his bandmates, it’s another chapter in a story that, much like their music, refuses to fade away.
