Music
27 Aug 21

KISS cancel Pennsylvania gig after Paul Stanley tests positive for COVID-19

Stanley has received both vaccines, as has "everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew".

Rock legends KISS have cancelled a show after lead singer Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19.

The New York outfit were supposed to perform in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania on Thursday before the 69-year-old frontman contacted the virus.

Stanley has received both vaccines, as has "everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew", KISS said in a statement:

"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."

The band said they would release more information about future dates as soon as possible.

Stanley told fans he was "fine", describing rumours about his condition as "absolute nonsense".

"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," he tweeted.

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.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) August 26, 2021

KISS formed back in January 1973, with the line-up composed of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. KISS had originally lined up the last leg of their 'The End of the Road' farewell tour to conclude in the fall of 2021, but the pandemic prolonged their retirement plans.

Now, Gene Simmons has confirmed the band will begin another Las Vegas residency in late December, which will spill into 2022. Although the dates have not officially been announced, Simmons leaked the news during an interview at Animazing Gallery at The Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes in Las Vegas.

The United States has seen a spike in COVID cases due to the Delta variant. The daily average of new cases as of two days ago was 152,341, according to official figures.

Other musicians including Stevie Nicks, Garth Brooks and Nine Inch Nails have all axed performances for the rest of the year due to concerns over the variant.