Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are reportedly being sued over the death of one of their longtime guitar techs.
Francis Stueber, who had been with Kiss for more than 20 years, passed away in 2021 after contracting COVID-19 during the band’s “End of the Road” World Tour.
Stueber’s widow has now filed a lawsuit claiming both negligence and wrongful death. She is seeking damages from Simmons and Stanley, their longtime manager Doc McGhee, the tour’s promoter Live Nation, and hotel chain Marriott International.
The suit claims Stueber contracted COVID-19 while in Detroit and was “abandoned” at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton to quarantine as part of their protocol. Stueber reportedly contacted McGhee as he became sicker, with McGee promising to arrange for medical personnel to check in on the technician and failing to do so.
Stueber died just two days after he tested positive for the virus.
In a statement, the group said: “Everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew, are fully vaccinated. The band and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to safeguard everyone as much as possible at each show and in between shows. The tour also has a COVID safety protocol officer on staff full-time that is ensuring everyone is closely following all CDC guidelines.”
At the time, Stanley shared his condolences for Stueber on Twitter.
