KISS Singer/Guitarist Paul Stanley Tests Positive for Covid-19

Kiss fans attempting to attend last night’s show (August 26) in Burgettstown, PA were turned away from the gates without explanation. Later in the evening, the band publicly disclosed why: barely one week into the band’s extensive 2021 touring schedule, guitarist and singer Paul Stanley has tested positive for Covid-19.

Stanley, who is 69 years old, is fully vaccinated, along with the rest of the band and their entire crew (including a dedicated Covid officer), with everyone on the tour operating “in a bubble.” Stanley added on his personal Twitter account that he had been sick with “flu-like symptoms” over the past few days but had tested negative until a positive test finally came up yesterday afternoon.

It’s not yet clear whether additional shows will need to be canceled, but the band has promised more info on that shortly. Their next scheduled performance is on August 28 in Raleigh, NC.

Stanley himself was the first one to break the silence, addressing fast-spreading fan rumors about his health last night:

“PEOPLE!!! I am fine! I am not in ICU! My heart allows me to do 26 miles a day on my bike! I don’t know where this came from but it’s absolute nonsense,”

The band chimed in shortly thereafter with the official cancelation:

“KISS show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA is unfortunately postponed due to Paul Stanley testing positive for COVID. More information about show dates will be made available ASAP. 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.”

Stanley then posted again, explaining what happened in further detail:

“A full press release will be issued shortly about upcoming KISS shows. I had been sick with flu-like symptoms and was tested repeatedly and was negative. As of late this afternoon I tested positive. The crew, staff and band have all tested negative once again. More to follow.“

So-called “breakthrough” infections in vaccinated individuals have been grabbing headlines lately but remain rare. The three vaccines available in the U.S. are between 66% and 95% effective at preventing infection, and of the 168 million people in the country who were vaccinated as of August 16, the C.D.C. tallied just 9,716 patients with Covid-19 vaccine breakthrough infections who were hospitalized or died (0.00578%).

Stanley is just the latest to join an ever-growing list of artists that have had to cancel shows or entire tours due to the ongoing pandemic, including Corey Taylor, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, Korn, the Foo Fighters, Buckcherry, Limp Bizkit, Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson, Intronaut, Pop Evil, The Skull, Alesana and Light the Torch.

On behalf of everyone at MetalSucks, we wish Stanley a speedy recovery so he can get back to doing what he does as quickly as possible.

Remaining Kiss tour dates:

Aug. 28 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek [tickets]
Aug. 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood [tickets]
Sep. 01 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre [tickets]
Sep. 02 – Dayton, OH @ Wright State University Nutter Center [tickets]
Sep. 04 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 05 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Summerfest Grounds [tickets]
Sep. 09 – Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 10 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 12 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 17 – Ridgefield, WA @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheater [tickets]
Sep. 18 – George, WA @ Gorge Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 21 – Boise, ID @ ExtraMile Arena [tickets]
Sep. 22 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 23 – Sparks, NV @ Nugget Event Center [tickets]
Sep. 25 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sep. 26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion [tickets]
Sep. 28 – Hidalgo, TX @ Payne Arena [tickets]
Sep. 29 – Del Valle, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater [tickets]
Oct. 01 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena [tickets]
Oct. 02 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center [tickets]
Oct. 05 – Biloxi, MI @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum [tickets]
Oct. 06 – Lafayette, LA @ Lafayette Cajundome [tickets]
Oct. 08 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iThink Financial Amphitheatre [tickets]
Oct. 09 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre [tickets]