Gene Simmons blacked out behind the wheel—and the surprising reason could happen to you

When 76-year-old Gene Simmons opened his eyes in a Malibu hospital, the last thing he expected was to find himself at the centre of a medical emergency.

Moments earlier, his Lincoln Navigator had careened across several lanes of California’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway.

For the Kiss frontman, it wasn’t a tale of rock-and-roll recklessness—but a stark reminder that even legends aren’t immune to the frailties of age.

The crash unfolded just before 1:00 pm on 8 October, when Simmons told deputies he had fainted or passed out while driving.

His vehicle crossed multiple lanes before slamming into a parked car, narrowly avoiding what could have been a far more devastating outcome.

Authorities later confirmed that dehydration and a recent change in medication likely caused the blackout.

The incident struck a chord with many older adults who understand how fragile the balance between health and independence can become.

Simmons’ wife, Shannon Tweed, told NBC4 that doctors had recently adjusted his medication and warned him to drink more water—something he famously dislikes.

According to Shannon, ‘Gene hates to drink water and was put on a new medication recently and was dehydrated, which is what caused him to pass out.’

It’s a combination many Australians over 60 can relate to—new prescriptions and poor hydration can quietly conspire to affect balance, alertness, and blood pressure.