Gene Simmons claims he passed out behind the wheel before car crash
Kiss bassist and singer Gene Simmons was involved in a car accident on October 7, when the SUV he was driving crashed into a parked car on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons says he passed out behind the wheel before slamming into a parked car in California on Tuesday.
The 76-year-old rock star was hospitalized after the accident, which occurred around 1 PM in Malibu. He has since been released and is recovering at home.
The Kiss co-founder has been open about his health issues, including a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation, and told authorities on the scene that he must have fainted before the crash. His wife, Shannon Tweed, told NBC 4 Investigates that his doctors recently switched up his medications, which, combined with dehydration, might explain the sudden loss of consciousness.
According to NBC 4 Los Angeles, a witness called 911 to report the accident after the Lincoln Navigator he was driving veered across several lanes of traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway before crashing into a parked car.
No injuries were reported, but Gene was rushed to the hospital after speaking with first responders and speculating he may have fainted behind the wheel. His wife blamed his medications and the fact that he does not drink enough water.
This wouldn't be the first time the rocker has had a bout with dehydration. In 2023, he made headlines after an incident during a Kiss show in Manaus, Brazil. He became ill during the performance, which had to be stopped.
After the scary incident, Gene released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, reassuring fans that he was doing just fine. He wrote, "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. Tomorrow, Bogota Stadium. See you there!'"
In a follow-up post, the bassist explained, "Ok, kids. Not a big deal. Thanks for your kind wishes. Last night we played Amazon jungle Stadium/Brazil. Humidity and temperature were sky high. I was dehydrated and was forced to sit for a song. We got back on stage in 5 minutes & finished the show."
The iconic glam rock group rose to prominence in the late 1970s and is known for their black and white makeup and their on-stage personas. Over the years, they've put out chart-topping hits like 'Rock and Roll All Nite' and 'I Was Made For Lovin' You.'
Despite their open criticism of Donald Trump, the group accepted the president's nomination for this year's Kennedy Center Honors.
"KISS is the embodiment of the American dream," Gene said in a statement, "We are deeply honored to receive the Kennedy Center Honor."
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports, and entertainment stories.