KISS co-founder Paul Stanley recently shared heartbreaking news about the loss of a longtime member of his inner circle.
Paul Stanley mourns Danny Francis’ passing
Taking to his X account, the rock icon announced the passing of Danny Francis, who served as his head of security, close friend, and assistant for three decades.
Stanley said, “Danny Francis, my dear friend, assistant and so much more for 30 years of tours and life has died after a brutal fight with liver cancer. He was loved by Erin and all my children and his kindness was given to everyone he came in contact with. My condolences to his entire family.”
Stanley’s tribute emphasized the deep personal connection that Francis had with his family and the warmth he extended to everyone around him.
Danny Francis began 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, contributing to several of their major world tours, including “Revenge,” “Psycho Circus,” and “End of the Road.”
Behind the scenes, Danny played a crucial role in ensuring that everything ran smoothly during KISS’s large and complex live shows. He organized security worldwide and made sure that Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and the rest of the band were always safe. He managed crowd control, backstage access, and VIP areas, collaborating with local police and venue staff to ensure that every show went off without issues.
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.
Francis’s passing marks another devastating blow to the KISS family during an already difficult time.
Francis passed away on October 26th, just days after the funeral of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. The timing of these losses has created a particularly painful period for the band and its extended family.
