A legal dispute between Rock band KISS and a former wig roadie concluded with an out-of-court settlement following a judge’s caution that moving forward with the case posed considerable risks for the band.
David Mathews, who worked with KISS for 30 years, accused the band of mistreatment and wrongful dismissal in early 2023. The case was originally going to move toward a trial this month, but a clerk confirmed to Rolling Stone on January 6 that it recently was called off.
The lawsuit centered around Mathews’ accusations of being forced to work closely with Gene Simmons during a time when strict COVID-19 safety protocols were in place.
The band’s pandemic safety practices gathered attention when crew member Fran Stueber, who died of COVID-19 in 2021. Suspicions arose that Mathews leaked information about the matter to the media, leading to his termination, though he denied the allegations, which he also brought to the court.
During the preliminary hearing, Judge Armen Tamzarian of the L.A. County Superior Court commented, “If this goes to trial, it would not surprise me if Mr. Mathews got nothing. It would not surprise me if he made a big pot of money. This is the kind of case any rational person would settle. There’s a big risk this could swing dramatically one way or the other.”
He added that if the ex-roadie managed to win, “there are deep, deep pockets there, and there could be a big result.”
A hearing in March will finalize the settlement details between KISS and Mathews.
