KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have officially settled a lawsuit filed by their longtime hairstylist, David Matthews. Matthews, who had worked with the iconic rockers since 1992, was responsible for styling and maintaining their signature wigs.
The legal dispute arose after Matthews alleged wrongful termination in February 2023. He claimed he was fired in 2022 during KISS’s End of the Road tour, following his complaints about “unsafe” COVID-19 protocols. The hairstylist’s concerns were amplified after the death of Fran Stueber, KISS’s longtime guitar technician, who passed away from COVID-19 while on the tour in October 2021.
While the case was originally scheduled for court on January 22, both parties informed the judge earlier this week that they had “resolved the case.” The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
This KISS lawsuit isn’t the only legal challenge facing the band. Simmons and Stanley are still embroiled in a separate case brought forward by Stueber’s family in 2023. The family has accused the band of negligence and wrongful death, citing unsafe conditions that allegedly contributed to Stueber’s passing.
The resolution of the hairstylist’s lawsuit and the ongoing litigation highlight the challenges the legendary rock band has faced in recent years, both on and off the stage.
