Just when the rock world was reeling from one loss, Kiss fans were hit with another heartbreaking blow. Days after the death of former guitarist Ace Frehley, the legendary band is mourning someone who might not have been on stage but was absolutely part of the family, longtime head of security and right-hand man, Danny Francis.
On Oct. 26, Kiss frontman Paul Stanley shared the sad news on X. His post painted a picture not just of a colleague, but of a man who had become deeply woven into the band’s life.
Paul Stanley of Kiss Shares Heartfelt Message
“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,” Stanley wrote on X. “He was loved by Erin and all my children and his kindness was given to everyone he came in contact with.”
Stanley’s mention of “Erin and all my children” referred to his wife, Erin Sutton, and their three kids. The couple married in 2005, and by all accounts, Francis had been a constant presence in their lives, the kind of behind-the-scenes figure every touring artist depends on but few fans ever get to know.
For three decades, Francis wasn’t just guarding the band. He was the calm in the chaos, the guy who made sure Kiss could safely be Kiss, face paint, fire-breathing, and all.
But his story didn’t start with Kiss. In a 2022 Classic Rock feature, Francis, whose full name was Michael “Danny” Francis, opened up about his decades in the music business. His résumé reads like a rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame guest list: Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Cher, Bon Jovi. The man had seen it all.
He even wrote a book about it: “Star Man: The Right Hand Man of Rock ‘N’ Roll.” In it, Francis shared glimpses of life behind the curtain, the good, the bad, and the legendary. Talking about McCartney, he said the former Beatle was “always a fantastic bloke.” Led Zeppelin, he admitted, was “chaotic, but amazing.” He recalled spending just a few days around Elvis, but those moments stuck with him.
“You could see the end coming,” Francis wrote of Presley’s final days. “We all thought we’d probably meet him again and again, but it was never gonna happen.”
Good Memories from the Road
His memories weren’t all somber, though. When asked about working with Cher, he didn’t hesitate to call it the best gig of his life. “She’s just a special person,” he said. “And still is, in and out of music.”
That warmth and admiration seemed to follow him through every chapter of his career. By the time Francis joined Kiss, he wasn’t just another staff member, he was family. Those who toured with him say he had a presence that filled the room, but not in a loud way. He was steady, funny, fiercely loyal, and quietly indispensable.
Francis himself once described his experience working with the band in classic rock ‘n’ roll honesty. Stanley and Gene Simmons, he said, were “total professionals,” while Ace Frehley and Peter Criss were “the total opposite.” It was said with affection, the kind of candor that comes from decades of shared madness on the road.
His passing, just 10 days after Frehley’s death, feels like a one-two punch to the rock universe. Two very different men, both instrumental in shaping the band’s story in their own ways, now gone within days of each other.
For Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, this loss hits close to home. Kiss may be a band built on theatrics, but offstage, their circle is tight, a small army of loyal crew members who’ve made sure the show could go on night after night. Danny Francis wasn’t just part of that army. He was its heart.
While the world knows Kiss for its pyrotechnics, painted faces, and rock anthems, the people who knew Danny Francis will remember something else entirely, his heart, his humor, and his unwavering loyalty.
As one fan put it under Stanley’s post, “He may not have worn the makeup, but he was part of the band.” And really, that’s the truest kind of rock ‘n’ roll legacy, not just being in the spotlight, but being the reason it can shine.
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