KISS family suffers another tragic loss
Danny Francis, KISS’s longtime head of security, has sadly passed away, just days after Ace Frehley’s funeral. A Facebook post said it has been a very difficult week for the KISS family, and sent love and condolences to Danny’s friends, family, and everyone who knew him.
“Just heard the sad news that Danny Francis, KISS’ longtime head of security, has passed away. It’s been such a difficult week for the KISS family… Sending heartfelt condolences to Danny’s loved ones and all who knew him. Rest in peace, Danny.”
Danny’s death comes just after Ace Frehley’s passing, so it really couldn’t come at a worse time as fans have to deal with a double dose of heartbreak now.
Remembering Danny Francis: The Man Who Kept KISS Safe on the Road
Danny Francis started working with KISS in the 1980s as part of their touring crew. Over time, he became an important and trusted member of the band’s inner circle. He served as head of security for many years, working on several of their biggest world tours, including Revenge, Psycho Circus, Alive/35, and End of the Road.
Behind the scenes, Danny played a huge role in keeping everything running smoothly during KISS’s large and complex live shows. He helped organize security around the world and made sure Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and the rest of the band were always safe. He managed crowd control, backstage access, and VIP areas, and worked with local police and venue staff to make sure every show went off without problems.
Danny was also responsible for guiding the band during busy and sometimes chaotic fan situations, both at home and while traveling internationally. So his loss is obviously a really big blow.
Ace Frehley Laid to Rest in His Hometown of the Bronx
In related news, Ace Frehley has been buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York, close to where he grew up. His longtime manager, John Ostrosky, confirmed the news to the New York Post.
The 74-year-old musician was laid to rest on Wednesday, October 22, after a private memorial service held the day before at the Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers.
Ostrosky thanked everyone who helped make the service possible, including Frank Sinatra Jr., Joseph Vivona, and the staff at the funeral home, along with Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, Chief Richard Alaimo, and the local police team for providing a safe escort to the cemetery. He added that Ace would have really appreciated the tribute.
“We would like to thank Frank Sinatra Jr., Joseph Vivona and the entire staff at Sinatra Memorial Home, as well as Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, Chief Richard Alaimo, as well as the supervisors, officers, and especially the Traffic Division for a safe escort to Woodlawn,” Ostrosky told the New York Post. “Ace would have loved that!”
SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk shared on social media that he was part of the small group of family and close friends, including KISS’s original members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss, who attended both services for Ace Frehley.
In a video posted to Instagram, Trunk said that Ace was buried in a cemetery in the Bronx, close to where he grew up and near his parents’ graves, just as he had wished.
“Ace Frehley was laid to rest in a cemetery in the Bronx, New York — of course, where he grew up, very close to where his parents were buried, which were his wishes.”
